Below is our impact report* for the fall semester 2024-2025 academic year for the 3rd & Goal Peer 2 Peer Sponsorship Program at The Ohio State University.
Seven Peer Sponsors served the entirety of the semester.
Peer Sponsors connected with their 97 assigned new Veteran students and eased their transitions in every area from orientation through academic success.
Peers served military-connected students with 250 phone calls, 88 in-person drop-ins, and 3 email inquiries in addition to the weekly emails that are sent to our new Veteran students.
Peers aided military students regarding 321 transition issues/GI Bill certifications, 6 other education benefit questions, 7 Veterans Success on Campus Counselor questions, 11 academic advising conversations, 3 mental and physical health referrals, 11 admissions inquiries, and 30 other transition requests.
Our Peers also assisted in numerous programs including our orientation briefing and social mixer for new military-connected students, the first of two FAFSA Workshops, an NFL Browns v. Steelers Thursday Night Football get-together, study sessions at coffee shops, and a military-community luncheon the day before finals.
We strive for personal, and sometimes powerful, connections between our Peers and the new student veterans they serve. One Peer Sponsor recounted: "A near homeless veteran called the office very stressed, facing eviction from their apartment with nowhere to stay. They were overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next. I listened to their situation and directed them to multiple resources, including Ohio State’s Vet’s House and local emergency housing organizations in Franklin County. Together, we worked through the options, and by the end of the day, they had a plan in place and the support they needed to
resolve their situation."
Another Peer Sponsor shared: “A prospective student veteran interested in attending OSU had questions about the application process, campus life, using the GI Bill, and attending college for the first time. I answered their questions and gave them several on and off campus resources they can use while applying for and attending college.”
Lastly, a Peer Sponsor reported: “A new student veteran had questions about their statement of account. Specifically, they wanted to know what was covered by the GI Bill and what they were responsible for. I broke their statement of account down for them, line by line, to clarify a commonly confusing situation. Once we went through everything, I referred them to Buckeyelink where they could ask more in-depth questions about their non-military financial aid.”
*Impact numbers provided by The Ohio State University.
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