For the second year in a row, our foundation fully funded the 3rd & Goal Peer 2 Peer Sponsorship program at The Ohio State University for the 2020-2021 academic year. The mentorship program helps all incoming student veterans and service members make a smooth transition from military service to the college environment by pairing them with peer sponsors who can help with paperwork, finding a place to live, navigating campus, uncovering potential academic obstacles and anything else the new student might need to help them be successful in their first year of college. In addition, the 3rd & Goal peer sponsors plan events for these veteran students to help with the transition. This program that is led by trained 3rd and 4th year student-veteran has led to an overall increased GPA, graduation rates and student veteran morale.
Below is our impact report* for the first semester of the 2020-2021 academic year. Despite the challenges of Covid-19, the program was still able to make a great impact for these student veterans.
Directly impacting 700+ veteran students.
Peer Sponsors connected with their 96 assigned new veteran students and eased their transitions in every area from orientation through academic success.
Peers served transitioning veteran students with 246 phone calls.
Peers served transitioning veteran students with 27 in person customer service walk-ins.
Peers connected veteran students with: 130 transition issues/GI Bill certifications, 15 Veterans Success on Campus Counselors, 19 Academic Advising sessions, 18 Tutoring and Writing Center referrals, 18 Student Life Disability Services requests, 33 with Career Services, 6 with Mental Health Counseling Services, 6 connections with our “Vets 4 Vets” Student Organization, 16 with On/Off Campus Housing referrals, 22 with Student Health Services, 10 with Admissions, 6 with Graduate Program inquiries, 21 with off-campus resources in the broader Columbus area and 45 with other transition requests.
Through our program many virtual programs were also offered including: FAFSA Workshops, a “Gear Up for Finals” workshop presented by the Dennis Learning Center and over the holidays a Friendsgiving Recipe Share Program.
Peer Sponsor connected with an Ohio State Army ROTC Cadet student who was temporarily homeless while waiting for military benefits. The ROTC Cadet moved-in with his Peer Sponsor for three months, and their mentorship relationship continues in other ways.
*Impact numbers provided by The Ohio State University.