In the Spring of 2005, St. Lawrence University pooled their resources to apply for a grant with the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women. Their efforts were rewarded in August 2005 with the awarding of the AWARE Project Grant No. 2005-WA-AX-0022.

Beginning in September 2005, the Advisory Board Working Against Sexual and Relationship Violence was convened by Interim Dean Margaret Bass to coordinate and improve services and outreach, review policies and protocols, and implement prevention programs. In 2006, the task force reconvened as the Sexual Violence Advisory Board, beginning anew under the leadership of the Katie Protos, the first director of the Advocates Program. The Advocates Program was refunded in September 2007 through Grant No. 2007-WA-AX-0008, a three-year grant with the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women.

The advisory board is a multi-disciplinary group of individuals dedicated to the eradication of all forms of sexual violence. Individuals serving on the board are representative of the Associate Dean, Athletics Department, Chaplain's Office, Counseling Services, Division for Student Life, First Year Program, Health Center, Residence Life, Security and Safety, Committee on the Status of Women, The Pink Triangle, Women's Resource Center, English Department, Biology Department, History Department, Philosophy Department, and the Speech & Theatre Department.

Additionally, the Advocates Program works with various agencies throughout the St. Lawrence County community in an effort to build a comprehensive education and response program for sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking. Our community partners include Citizens Against Violent Acts, Inc., Renewal House, Catholic Charities of the Dioceses of Ogdensburg, New York, and the Canton Village Police Department.