UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response (OSMPR) has released translations for many of their educational and informational materials as part of a grant the office received through the “It’s On Us PA” program.
OSMPR, a unit of Penn State Student Affairs, received a $30,000 grant in 2020 to help expand educational efforts around sexual misconduct and sexual violence across all Penn State campuses, especially with nonnative English-speaking students.
The grant funded the translation of an educational video that provides information about signs to recognize sexual assault, stalking, domestic violence and gender-based harassment, and how to get help at the University or in the community. In addition, several informational materials were translated, including resource sheets for complainants and respondents, a know your rights document, a quick reference guide, and an investigation flow chart.
All materials were translated into six languages, Arabic, French, Korean, Malay, Mandarin and Spanish, which were identified in collaboration with Global Programs. The translations are available on the OSMPR website.
OSMPR worked with campus and community partners to provide these translations to better engage and support nonnative English-speaking students. Currently, international students report sexual violence at a lower rate than other demographics. Penn State’s data suggests that Penn State’s international students are two to three times less likely to report than their domestic counterparts. Language, as well as cultural and social norms, can present barriers to both reporting and understanding rights.
The translated materials will assist these students in better recognizing behaviors that constitute sexual misconduct as well as better understanding their reporting options, their rights as a complainant or respondent, and the investigation process.
“I am extremely happy with the collaboration OSMPR had with various campus and community partners in pulling together this project,” said Spencer Peters, director, OSMPR. “The common goal of all the partners was to provide better access, support and resources to nonnative English-speaking students. We hope this increased accessibility for these students will help them navigate support options if they are in a difficult situation.”
The translations will be available on the TitleIX.psu.edu website as well as distributed to Commonwealth and World Campuses. In addition, through a partnership with Global Programs, the video translations will be available for international students to view as part of a Canvas course they will complete prior to arriving on campus. Staff from OSMPR will follow up with these students after arrival through small group discussions.
Global Programs is committed to creating a welcoming environment at Penn State for all students, particularly international students, to highlight our shared values of Respect and Community,” said Mel White, interim director for Global Operations and Learning, Global Programs. “We were pleased to partner with colleagues from across the University on an important project such as the “It’s on Us” grant.”
WPSU Penn State produced the video translations. The document translations were created with assistance from Penn State Global Programs and Centre Safe. Gov. Tom Wolf launched the “It’s On Us” program in January 2016. “It’s On Us” aims to increase awareness, education and resources that combat sexual assault in schools, colleges and universities.