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Description
Veterans of the United States military have been attending institutions of higher education dating back to World War II and the passage of the first G.I. Bill in 1944. In 2009, the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill was passed, which has offered student veterans significant assistance in the completion of their postsecondary education. Over one million veterans have attended postsecondary institutions using these benefits. With this recent influx of veteran students, campuses have struggled to respond to their needs. Though a great deal of historical research exists about student veterans, this literature cannot cover all of the challenges that today’s student veterans face. Additionally, much of the research is focused on the transition veterans experience when they exit the military and enter college. Though it is undoubtedly a challenging transition, it is not the only challenge they will face in their college careers. Little research exists regarding how to support this nontraditional population of students after they arrive on campus; similarly, many campus resources are focused on support for incoming and graduating students, and less on support for current students. This study examined how campuses can best support student veterans throughout their college careers. The main research question was, “What type of support services are necessary to retain and ensure the success of student veterans during their time on campus?” A needs assessment model was employed, utilizing quantitative research in the form of a survey and qualitative research in the form of one-on-one-interviews. Survey data was collected from over 300 student veterans, and interviews were conducted with five. The results of this needs assessment suggested that a focus on critical services (such as admissions outreach and benefits guidance) while also providing opportunities for students to connect with each other were critical to the success of student veterans at this particular institution. Though these results cannot necessarily be generalized and applied to all institutions or to all student veterans, this study provides a template for other institutions to conduct their own needs assessments.
