THE NEED
More and more veterans and military dependents are attending community colleges and universities through the Post 9-11 GI Bill. Access to a college education, however, does not guarantee success. Student veterans and military dependents face unique challenges as they transition from the military to college. These may include:
- Succeeding academically while often managing competing priorities of family life and employment
- Accessing educational and health benefits
- Maintaining sound financial health
- Finding the right resources to address issues they may be facing
Numerous studies on the effectiveness of peer-to-peer approaches have demonstrated that peers “who have been there” can be a credible source of support, help overcome the stigma around asking for help, and open the door to improved well-being. That is the rationale behind the PAVE program.
OUR APPROACH
Peer Advisors for Veteran Education (PAVE) is a peer support program that connects incoming student veterans with student veterans already on campus to help ease the transition from the military to academic life. Veteran peers who have “been there” can be a credible source of support and can facilitate connection to needed resources. In addition to serving student veterans, PAVE can also support military dependents as they transition into the campus community.
Incoming student veterans, as well as some military dependents at select campuses, are matched with trained Peer Advisors who can provide guidance on navigating college life, identify students at risk, and connect them with appropriate academic, social, and financial resources. Student and campus leadership implement PAVE’s field-tested strategies, tailoring the program to meet the specific needs of veterans and their dependents on their respective campuses. A web-based platform includes a training site for Peer Advisors; a tracking app that is populated with campus resources to facilitate local referrals; and a management console that schools can use to match students with Peer Advisors, identify trends and gaps in services, and monitor the program.
Student-centered, success-focused programs like PAVE offer campuses an established model for supporting student veterans and helping them overcome barriers to academic and personal success.
THE MODEL
PAVE's activities... |
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PAVE IN NUMBERS
As of Summer 2025
- 22 Partner Campuses
- 2,200+ Peer Advisors and Team Leaders Trained
- 42,000+ Student veterans and Military Dependents Contacted
- Top concerns:
- Academic
- Benefits/Claims
- Relationships & Mental Health
- Financial
CONTINUOUS SUPPORT
The PAVE National Team continues to provide technical assistance to each school, sharing best practices from the field, and facilitating communication among partner campuses.
PAVE is a partnership between the Eisenberg Family Depression Center at the University of Michigan and Student Veterans of America.
