Spring Semester Impact Report: 3rd & Goal Peer 2 Peer Sponsorship Program
Below is our impact report* for the spring semester 2022-2023 academic year for the 3rd & Goal Peer 2 Peer Sponsorship Program at The Ohio State University.
Seven Peer Sponsors served the entirety of the spring semester.
Peer Sponsors connected with their 32 assigned new Veteran students and eased their transitions in every area from orientation through academic success.
Peers served military-connected students with 604 phone calls, 183 in-person drop-ins, and 9 email inquiries in addition to the weekly emails that are sent to our new veteran students.
Peers aided military students regarding 453 transition issues/GI Bill certifications, 36 other education benefit questions, 59 residency concerns, 17 Veterans Success on Campus Counselor questions, 16 academic advising conversations, 1 career services inquiry, 9 mental and physical health referrals, 2 student organization and activity recommendations, 1 with a housing referral, 17 admissions inquiries, and 37 other transition requests.
Our Peers also assisted in numerous programs including an orientation briefing and social mixer for new military-connected students, a resource fair with on/off-campus partners, the second of two FAFSA Workshops, a military-community luncheon the day before finals which 26 people attended, and a military student graduation celebration where 60 people attended.
Peer Sponsors worked 1 hour per week in the campus Veterans’ Lounge.
We strive for personal connections between our Peers and the new Veteran students they serve. One Peer Sponsor recounted: “I have helped several students this semester from my peer group, including one who has contacted me multiple times for assistance with GI Bill issues. During one instance, we were able to work out an issue with his post-9/11 benefits, which he was new to using. After the situation was solved, I also pointed him to several other scholarship opportunities for him to help pay for school.”
Another Peer Sponsor shared: “I had a parent call about his kid who was currently a junior and hadn't properly used benefits throughout his time. I set them up with a counselor who was able to help them get back paid. I also introduced them to the Ohio War Orphan's scholarship which they weren't familiar with. The dad, who was a disabled veteran himself, was extremely thankful especially because he had other kids coming to college and was stressing about paying for it all.”
*Impact numbers provided by The Ohio State University.
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