It's On Us — Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What is the goal of an It’s On Us chapter?

It’s On Us chapters build a team of dedicated student leaders who teach sexual violence awareness and consent, teach bystander education, and create support for survivors on campus. It’s On Us chapters are critical in changing the culture on campus around sexual assault.

What do It’s On Us chapters do?

It’s On Us chapters establish a team, plan and host events, and conduct educational programs and training such as bystander intervention courses with their peers on campus in order to raise awareness about sexual violence, prevent it from happening in the first place, and support survivors.

How do I start an It’s On Us chapter on campus?

To start an It’s On Us chapter on campus, you must identify a student to serve as the Campus Organizer/Chapter President. Campus Organizers will serve as the “President” of the It’s On Us chapter on their campus. Campus Organizers are responsible for convening their general membership regularly and structuring their chapter leadership board in ways that make sense for their campus climate, institution, and team. Each campus will have one campus organizer. Larger institutions may be represented by two campus organizers, but the applicants must apply together as co-applicants. All chapters are encouraged to secure an advisor who is an employee of the school. At least one member of the executive board must be an underclassmen as a measure of ensuring sustainability from year to year. Chapters are encouraged to become an official student group at their institution in order to receive access to funding, use of space on campus, etc., although this is not required

Does the chapter have to be a standalone program on campus or can it run under an office such as the Women’s Center, Wellness Center, etc.?

Yes, chapters are allowed to be under and/or affiliated with other departments/centers on campus if that is what makes the most sense for the campus climate, culture, and structure.

Who Can Start a Chapter

Can I start a chapter if I am in high school?

Unfortunately, no. Currently, It’s On Us does not have the capacity to organize at high schools. This is something we hope to do in the near future, and we’ll keep everyone posted as those plans shapen up. Of course, high school students are welcome to take the It’s On Us Pledge and we welcome you to support our content on social media and share our PSAs. As always, our free resources are accessible to everyone.

Can I start a chapter if I am not currently enrolled in a U.S. college or university?

No. If you are not currently enrolled in a U.S. college or university, you may not start a chapter.

How can I support starting an It’s On Us chapter as a faculty/staff member?

As a faculty or staff member on campus, you might consider becoming the staff/faculty adviser for the chapter. Again, all chapters are encouraged to become official student organizations, but it is not a requirement. If an It’s On Us chapter does not yet exist on your campus, you might want to consider circulating the application form to students you know who would be a good fit as Campus Organizer.

Can I start an It’s On Us chapter if I go to school outside of the United States?

The It’s On Us Campus Organizing Program is currently only available to students who go to a U.S. college or university.

Can I start a chapter if I go to a community college?

Absolutely! We love working with community colleges and believe they are fundamental to changing the culture.

Can I start a chapter if I go to a tribal college?

Definitely! We are committed to providing resources to students enrolled at tribal institutions.

Do I have to be a survivor of sexual violence to start or be part of an It’s On Us chapter?

No. It’s On Us is grounded on the principle of calling everyone into being a part of the solution. If we all work together, we believe that we can create a world where everyone recognizes that all nonconsensual sexual acts are sexual assault, is able to recognize situations in which sexual assault may occur, intervenes in situations where consent has not or cannot be given, and creates an environment in which sexual assault is unacceptable and survivors are supported.

Funding

How much does it cost to start an It’s On Us chapter?

Nothing. There are no annual dues for being an It’s On Us chapter.

How much should we plan to raise or ask for in our budget as a student group on campus?

We’ve seen chapters budget anywhere between $250-$5,000 per academic year for programming and putting on events. We encourage you to map out your plans for the year and estimate approximately how much money you need to meet your goals/outcomes based on those plans.

How do chapters raise money?

Chapters are usually entitled to some level of funds through their school’s budgeting process for official student organizations. The process varies campus to campus, but typically involves a chapter submitting a proposal or budget to the student government association (SGA), which then decides to award some or all of the requested funds. Chapters also engage in fundraising efforts to support their work on campus such as asking for in-kind donations from local businesses, holding bake sales, hosting competitions among greek houses, etc.

How to get Started

What is the first step to starting an It’s On Us chapter?

The first step to starting an It’s On Us chapter is to fill out our chapter registration form. To start an It’s On Us chapter on campus, you must identify a student to serve as to be the Campus Organizer/Chapter President. Campus Organizers will serve as the “President” of the It’s On Us chapter on their campus. Campus Organizers are responsible for convening their general membership regularly (every 1-2 weeks) and structuring their chapter leadership board in ways that make sense for their campus climate, institution, and team. Each campus will have one campus organizer/chapter president. Larger institutions may be represented by two campus organizers/chapter presidents. All chapters are encouraged to secure an advisor who is an employee of the school. At least one member of the executive board must be an underclassmen as a measure of ensuring sustainability from year to year. Chapters are encouraged to become an official student group at their institution in order to receive access to funding, use of space on campus, etc., although this is not required.

How do we identify a faculty/staff advisor for our chapter?

Any staff/faculty member can be an advisor for your chapter. In the past, we have seen Title IX Coordinators, Deans of Student Affairs, Woman Studies Department Heads and Professors, Sexual Assault Prevention Coordinators, Directors of Student Activities or Student Life, and more serve as faculty/staff advisors.