Bill > H3153

This bill establishes a pilot program at the University of Massachusetts System (UMASS) campuses in Amherst and Lowell, as well as Bridgewater State College (BSC) and Salem State College (SSC), to create a veteran mentoring program aimed at helping student veterans adjust to civilian life, covering educational, financial, and emotional aspects. The program also intends to offer non-veteran students opportunities to learn about military service from veteran students and volunteer mentors, with the primary goal of providing veteran students with independent support and guidance to achieve academic success, improve relationships, increase retention, and access student services. The selection of these institutions is due to their participation in the Veteran's Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program, which is expected to attract a larger number of veterans. The program will consist of two parts: recruiting veteran faculty, staff, alumni, or friends to mentor student veterans, and allowing any student to learn from the experiences of veterans through seminars. Student participants will be considered mentees, and mentor qualifications will be approved by the respective college presidents, with a requirement for UMASS, BSC, and SSC to report feedback and recommendations for program improvement to the general court by June 30, 2012.