Penn Violence Prevention collaborates with students and staff across campus to offer a number of comprehensive educational programs focused on relationship violence, sexual violence, stalking, and sexual harassment. Trainings, workshops, and presentations can be tailored to the particular needs of the audience. Campus groups and organizations that plan to host their own programs are encouraged to contact the Penn Violence Prevention staff for consultation and support.
PVP Programs
Workshops usually range from 90 minutes to 2 hours in duration, and can be presented to groups large and small. Each workshop can cover a range of topics related to relationship violence, sexual violence, stalking, and sexual harassment. Sessions are designed to be interactive and informative. Below is an overview of the available workshops:
- Conversations About Consent
This workshop builds participants’ understanding of consent and the skills needed to practice it across all relationships. - Bystander Intervention at Penn
This training equips participants to intervene on sexual and relationship violence in their communities, using a number of strategies and in a variety of contexts. - Setting & Maintaining Boundaries
The latest workshop from PVP helps participants identify personal boundaries and practice communicating about boundaries, even in pressured situations. - How to Support A Survivor
Learn to recognize signs of interpersonal violence and how best to support individuals impacted by sexual violence and relationship violence. - Overview of Penn Resources
This brief presentation covers the offerings of on and off campus resources related to sexual and relationship violence. - Customized Workshop
After a consultation with PVP staff, a customized workshop can be created to meet your specific needs!
PAVE is a peer education program led by PVP that trains student workers to teach one another about consent and bystander intervention. For more information on PAVE, check out our page on the program here!
Thrive at Penn (TAP) is an online program that assists students with their Penn experience. TAP prepares students for their university experience and provides information about resources available to support students. Our module focuses on healthy relationships, consent, policies on interpersonal violence, and resources for students who have experienced interpersonal violence. Other topics covered include thriving at a research university; wellness and health; the risks associated with alcohol and other drugs; and resources specific to your needs during freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years. TAP is sent to all incoming undergraduate and graduate students prior to arriving at Penn.
Consent Circles is an annual consent education program for all incoming students. These hour-long sessions are facilitated by peer educators who are trained to host conversations on consent and interpersonal violence (IPV) with their fellow students. In addition to equipping incoming students to discuss and practice consent. Consent Circles also inform students of the resources available at Penn where students who have been impacted by interpersonal and/or sexual violence can access support. All first-year students will have the opportunity to explore topics related to consent and interpersonal violence in a supportive and approachable environment with their peers.
Education Programs for Specific Populations
For workshops, trainings, and presentations specific to one of the groups described below, check out their pages!
Programs from Our Campus Partners
Self Defense and Empowerment Training
Special Services, a department in the Division of Public Safety, offers free self defense classes for all members of the Penn community and their children. For more information, contact Special Services at SpecialServices@publicsafety.upenn.edu.
I CARE Training
Student Health and Counseling offers I CARE, an interactive gatekeeper training for students, faculty, and staff that builds a caring community with the skills and resources to intervene with student stress, distress, and crisis. To learn more about I CARE or to request a training for your Penn group, see the I CARE webpage.