Early Bird

PAVE the way for military veterans to succeed in higher education

MSU Denver is one of 19 universities across the country to partner with the Peer Advisors for Veteran Education program.

By Rita Case

September 23, 2020

Metropolitan State University of Denver has been selected as one of 19 new partner campuses within the nationwide Peer Advisors for Veteran Education program network.

PAVE builds on the camaraderie veterans experience in the military to create a sense of community and connectedness that contributes to academic and personal success. The peer-support program connects incoming student veterans with continuing student veterans who are trained as Peer Advisors. Peer Advisors help new veterans navigate college life, address challenges they may face, refer them to appropriate resources on and off campus and provide ongoing support.

The program eases the transition from the military to academia, creates a haven and source of support and can also help identify mental-health problems and other concerns in a timely manner and connect student veterans with appropriate resources. Ultimately, it’s also a retention tool. The program can improve student-veteran academic performance as well as help student veterans persist to graduation.

PAVE is still accepting applications for Peer Advisors, who can receive up to a $600 stipend each semester for their work. To be eligible, Peer Advisors need to be military veterans with an honorable discharge and attending courses on at least a three-quarters-time basis. For more information about PAVE, please contact pave@msudenver.edu.

PAVE is in place on 43 campuses nationwide. A web-based platform includes online training modules for Peer Advisors. The PAVE program is part of Military Support Programs and Networks, a group of programs at the University of Michigan developed to address the needs and challenges faced by service members, veterans and military families. PAVE is a partnership between the University of Michigan Depression Center and Student Veterans of America. It is supported by grants from the May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust and the Robert R McCormick Foundation.