Pitch for Prevention is a semester-long, cohort-based violence prevention initiative through Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services (VPAS) that empowers undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to help create a safer, more supportive Carolina community. Through leadership development, mentorship, and project-based learning, participants design and implement peer-led prevention initiatives focused on topics such as consent, healthy relationships, bystander intervention, supporting others, safety planning, and hazing.
Grounded in principles of peer education, the program recognizes that students play a critical role in shaping campus culture and are essential partners in violence prevention. Participants are encouraged to identify needs and opportunities within the Carolina community, elevate student perspectives, and collaborate to develop creative, evidence-informed solutions that promote safety, respect, and belonging. Along the way, they will gain practical prevention, leadership, and project planning skills while joining a network of students committed to advancing violence prevention across Carolina.
The 2026-2027 Cohort is underway. Applications for the 2027-2028 cohort will be available in Fall 2027.
Program Overview
Pitch for Prevention gives students the opportunity to design, implement, and evaluate an original violence prevention initiative during the spring semester. Selected participants will receive:
- Individual and cohort-based mentorship from VPAS staff
- Funding and event planning support for the implementation of your initiative
- Cohort-based learning and professional development that explores violence prevention through a variety of disciplines and perspectives
- Opportunity to complete NASPA’s Certified Peer Educator Training (12-hour, asynchronous, online training)
- Opportunities to build skills in program design, facilitation, project management, and evaluation
Applicant Requirements and Commitments
- Be enrolled as a full-time UNC-Chapel Hill student through the spring 2027 semester.
- Be an undergraduate student with sophomore, junior, or senior standing, a graduate student, or a professional student during the 2026-2027 academic year.
- Attend one cohort kickoff meeting during the fall 2026 semester.
- Attend a monthly cohort meeting with VPAS staff during the spring 2027 semester.
- Attend a monthly on-on-one project check-in meeting with VPAS staff during the spring 2027 semester.
Prevention Initiative Requirements
- Individuals or teams of up to three students may apply with a shared initiative.
- Initiative must be planned and implemented during the spring 2027 semester.
- Initiative must be open and accessible to all UNC-Chapel Hill students.
- Initiative must comply with all applicable University policies and procedures.
- Initiative must include an evaluation component to assess impact.
- Initiative must take place on or near campus, as appropriate for the proposed initiative.
- Initiative must align with one or more VPAS focus areas:
- Consent
- Healthy relationships
- Bystander intervention
- Supporting others
- Safety planning
- Hazing prevention
Application and Selection Process
Students interested in participating in the Pitch for Prevention spring 2027 cohort will submit an application describing their proposed violence prevention initiative, goals, and vision for creating a safer, more supportive Carolina community. Applications will be reviewed by a selection panel of professional and student staff representing a variety of campus departments to evaluate proposals based on:
- Alignment with violence prevention goals and VPAS focus areas
- Creativity and innovation of the proposed initiative
- Feasibility and ability to successfully implement the initiative during the spring semester
- Potential impact on the Carolina community
- Alignment with evidence-informed approaches, best practices, and all applicable University policies
- Opportunities for meaningful student engagement and peer leadership
Selected applicants will be invited to participate in a pitch-style interview to discuss their proposed initiative and ideas for bringing it to life.
Participants will conclude the program by presenting their initiative at the Pitch for Prevention Showcase. This event will provide an opportunity for students to share their work, reflect on their experiences, and inspire others to engage in violence prevention efforts across the Carolina community.
Application, selection, and program timeline
| Date | Milestone |
| Monday, August 24, 2026 | Application opens |
| Wednesday, September 2, 2026 | Virtual interest session #1 (optional) |
| Friday, September 18, 2026 | Virtual interest session #2 (optional) |
| Thursday, October 1, 2026 | Application closes |
| Friday, October 9, 2026 | Selected applications invited to interview |
| Week of October 19-23, 2026 | Pitch interviews |
| Friday, October 30, 2026 | Selected applications notified to join spring 2027 cohort |
| Friday, November 6, 2026 | Students confirm participation in spring 2027 cohort |
| Week of November 16-20, 2026 | Spring 2027 Cohort Kickoff Meeting |
| Wednesday, January 6 – Friday, April 9, 2027 | Monthly cohort meetings, monthly individual check-in meetings, and initiative implementation |
| Mid April 2027 | Pitch for Prevention Showcase |
Ready to pitch your initiative?
Applications for Pitch for Prevention are open through Thursday, October 1 at 11:59 p.m. Apply using the application form.
For questions, please email violenceprevention@unc.edu