The University of Montana has been awarded a nearly $300,000 federal grant to expand its efforts to address violence against women on campus.
Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester announced the Justice Department grant Monday. It is available through the Violence Against Women Act.
The university plans to use the money to create a full time position as director of student assault programming as well as support UM’s Men of Strength Club, a group that works to end violence against women. University officials say the grant money also will be used to expand the campus-wide approach to addressing interpersonal violence.
The Justice Department is investigating the way the university and its campus police, Missoula police and the county attorney’s office handle reports of sexual assault.