Investigating Student Service Member Support in Higher Education
Location
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
Description
PURPOSE: Since the passing of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, more than 817,000 service members have participated in higher education. Little research has been done to study student veterans as a unique college population, and to gauge whether the current best practices to support these students are effective. The purpose of this study is to further the scholarship on student veterans by investigating the transition into higher education and the factors that influence their engagement with academia. PROCEDURES: Both survey and interview data were collected to inform this research. 45 survey responses were collected, and four interview conversations were recorded during the research phase of this study. OUTCOME: Three themes that influence student veteran transition and engagement in higher education emerged from the data collected: (1) Veteran Camaraderie, (2) Nontraditional Student Status, and (3) Campus Culture. The findings of this research give insight into the relationship that student veterans have with entering and persisting in higher education that differs from their non-military affiliated peers; and how these differences can be utilized to craft veteran-specific resources. IMPACT: The findings and conclusions from this research may help to enhance veteran-specific services in higher education; while also expanding the current scholarship on student veteran issues in higher education. Stakeholders for veteran targeted services in higher education can use these findings to improve upon current support systems offered at institutions of higher education.
Investigating Student Service Member Support in Higher Education
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
PURPOSE: Since the passing of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, more than 817,000 service members have participated in higher education. Little research has been done to study student veterans as a unique college population, and to gauge whether the current best practices to support these students are effective. The purpose of this study is to further the scholarship on student veterans by investigating the transition into higher education and the factors that influence their engagement with academia. PROCEDURES: Both survey and interview data were collected to inform this research. 45 survey responses were collected, and four interview conversations were recorded during the research phase of this study. OUTCOME: Three themes that influence student veteran transition and engagement in higher education emerged from the data collected: (1) Veteran Camaraderie, (2) Nontraditional Student Status, and (3) Campus Culture. The findings of this research give insight into the relationship that student veterans have with entering and persisting in higher education that differs from their non-military affiliated peers; and how these differences can be utilized to craft veteran-specific resources. IMPACT: The findings and conclusions from this research may help to enhance veteran-specific services in higher education; while also expanding the current scholarship on student veteran issues in higher education. Stakeholders for veteran targeted services in higher education can use these findings to improve upon current support systems offered at institutions of higher education.