The Veteran-Student Experience

Lessons for Higher Education

Col. Sherrill J. Smith, RN, PhD, CNL, CNE, U.S. Air Force Reserve, Retired

Sharon L. Farra, RN, PhD, CNE, CHSE

Deborah L. Ulrich, RN, PhD, ANEF

Suzanne Franco, EdD

Kathy J. Keister, RN, PhD, CNE

Adrija Chatterjee, MA

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Abstract

Institutions of higher education are seeing more veteran and military-connected students as increasing numbers of students take advantage of the tuition assistance options available for those who served in the armed forces. These adult learners are unique in that they come to higher education with challenges and strengths that differ from traditional college students. Putting into place best-practice approaches to promote veteran-student success is crucial for transitioning those who have served our country into post-military careers. This article outlines the student’s perspective of a program option designed to meet the needs of military medics seeking a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Their experience provides implications for higher education seeking to promote veteran-student success.

Universities often use military service members’ and veterans’ benefits such as tuition assistance to entice military service members to enroll in their programs. While these benefits serve as effective recruiting tools, they do not ensure success for veteran-students who may find the world of academia a stark contrast to the orderly life of the military. To promote the success of the increasing number of veterans entering higher education, educators must understand the unique needs of the veteran student. This article explores the veteran-student experience in a program option created to promote the success of military medics seeking a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Lessons learned provide higher education with insights into best-practice approaches to promote veteran success and may inform the development of similar programs in other fields of study.

Background

Since the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, military members who patriotically serve, who are prepared to sacrifice their lives for our country if necessary, have been provided post-military service educational opportunities through benefits that include tuition assistance for higher education. These benefits now include the Post-9/11 GI Bill as well as state-based and other tuition assistance opportunities. Never before have veterans’ education benefits been as comprehensively or widely utilized as they have been through the current Post-9/11 GI Bill.¹ The numbers of veterans using just these Post-9/11 benefits have increased dramatically since the bill’s inception, from approximately 34,000 in 2009 to over 750,000 in 2013.²

Despite the fact that military members are being provided the financial means to seek higher education, many barriers may affect their success. The needs and challenges of veteran-students have been well documented in the United States since the beginning of the War on Terrorism in 2003. Veterans returning to campuses must deal not only with their recent battlefield experiences, but also with the transition to a new and unfamiliar academic environment. Veteran-students may struggle with issues such as posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and depression. In addition to the psychological challenges that can affect learning, combat-related physical challenges and disabilities may also affect the student’s ability to be successful in an academic environment.³

Additional struggles include difficulty accessing veterans’ benefits and adjusting to an environment that contrasts sharply with their more familiar structured military environment. The lack of structure may be further exacerbated for veterans who are first-generation college students and lack familiarity with the university environment and lifestyle. Veterans may be less likely to seek assistance when struggling in the classroom as the military emphasizes self-reliance, which may lead to a belief that they need to “figure it out for themselves” rather than seek academic or student support services. For students whose last significant academic experience was in high school three or more years previously and who have not enrolled in courses that would have helped them maintain or develop good study habits, success in higher education may be especially challenging. Without recent academic opportunities, they also may not have the necessary knowledge base to draw on for success. Those who have taken classes while serving may have lower GPAs because of deployments or long duty hours that prevented them from attending classes or from devoting as much time to studying as they needed.⁴ Students may also feel “disconnected,” with little in common with traditional students who do not share their military service and deployment experience.⁵ Even though these students have had extensive military training and education, students find that while the military training transfers to college credit, it does often not provide credit toward an actual program of study or degree.⁶

Despite these barriers, veteran-students have the advantage of life experiences and characteristics that come with military training such as perseverance, discipline, and integrity.⁷ At a time when the number of high school graduates entering colleges is decreasing, military veterans provide an ideal adult population for recruitment.⁸ However, once recruited, resources to promote retention that assist with overcoming barriers while building on the strengths of veteran-students are a must. This article examines the student perspective of a unique project designed to promote student success of veterans with a military medical background to achieve a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree and transition to a career as a professional nurse.

Figure. Veterans’ Education Project Partners (Figure by authors)

Methods

Setting and intervention. The project to promote veteran success took place at Wright State University, a midsize public university in the Midwest. Based on federal funding from the Health Resources Service Administration, a new program option was developed to recognize the training and experience of military medics in achieving a bachelor’s degree in nursing. The project incorporated an interprofessional collaboration of members from both within and outside the university (see figure).

The program option was designed with three areas of emphasis: (1) faculty development designed to prepare them to meet the needs and promote the success of veteran-students; (2) modifications to the traditional BSN program of study to accommodate and recognize prior health-care training and experience of veterans; and (3) successful transition to the collegiate environment and a professional nursing career facilitated through veteran-centric resources offered by the university, the college, and the local community. Faculty development activities included three two-hour continuing education sessions developed by the university Veteran and Military Center that reviewed military education and training, common physical and psychosocial issues of military-connected students, and teaching strategies for these same students. Modifications to the curriculum included a shorter sequence with a bridge transition course, credit for military training and experience, and options to test out of nursing and general education courses. Success was facilitated by use of a cohort model, a dedicated part-time nursing tutor providing individual and small-group tutoring sessions, a dedicated full-time advisor, and access to university and community support resources.

Participants. Eight veteran-students enrolled in the grant-supported veteran program option designed to help military medics achieve a BSN were recruited to take part in a focus group to evaluate the project. All students had a health-care background and had either served or were currently serving in the armed forces. These students were enrolled in their first semester of nursing and were part of an accelerated cohort of students that also included other health-care professionals with health-care experience such as emergency medical technicians and licensed practical nurses. The university institutional review board granted an exempt status to the project. All eligible veteran-students were invited to participate; one female and four male students agreed to take part in the focus group interview.

Data collection. Prior to the start of the focus group, one of the two facilitators reviewed the purpose of the focus group, the participants’ rights regarding answering questions and participation, and the protection of participants’ anonymity, and then assigned numerical identities for use during the audio recorded focus group. One facilitator led the discussion and a second facilitator assisted. The focus group interview was recorded with student permission. Institutional review board approval was granted to conduct the study by the affiliated university.

Instrument. The focus group interview guide developed by the researchers included the following questions, which were based on program goals and literature related to veteran education. Follow-on questions were used by the facilitator to provide clarification as needed during the focus group interview:

1. What were your experiences during the application process for the accelerated BSN program option? What worked? What didn’t?
2. How would you describe your experiences in transferring college credits?
3. How would you describe the support services you have received in the program?
4. Literature indicates that when available, veterans benefit from accessing psychological support services. What type of psychological support do you think would be beneficial for individuals like you in the BSN program? What would that look like? What would be the barriers to accessing that support?
5. How has your training in the service helped you in any of the classes this semester?
6. What are your thoughts about working in the small cohort/group?
7. How can the program option be improved to better serve veterans like yourself?
8. Is there any topic I have not mentioned that you would like to talk about?

Table. NVivo Analysis Codes and Student Quotes (Figure by authors)

Data analysis methods. After the focus group was completed, the facilitators transcribed the audio recording verbatim. Nonverbal behaviors and possible interpretations were discussed and related to the responses. The transcript was uploaded into NVivo 11 for analyses.⁹

The unit of analysis for the code-based analyses was each student’s responses. Participants’ nonverbal and verbal behaviors demonstrated respect and familiarity with each other through use of names and acknowledgment of common experiences.

The transcript was analyzed for two purposes: classical content analyses to summarize responses to each question from the interview guide and a theme-based constant comparison analysis investigating student attitudes and beliefs overall.¹⁰ A priori themes were established as codes prior to the analysis (support, cohort, credit transfer, and stress management). Word frequency data analyses based on NVivo output and individual and collaborative project team coding contributed to the removal of the theme “stress management.” Statements related to students’ stress management were coded within other codes. Also, during the project team review and collaboration, an additional nine codes and subcodes emerged (admission process, civilian/military experiences, military, accommodating military, military-self, future recommendations and academic support, faculty support, peer support, and other support). The additional codes added a finer level of detail for each of the remaining a priori codes. All project team data analysts agreed on the final coding, yielding a strong inter-rater reliability.

The table represents the final set of codes used in the analyses, the related code definitions, the number of times statements were assigned to the code, and student quotes related to the code.

Discussion

The analysis of the focus group data provided important insights related to implementation of the project for veterans with military medical experience. Final coded findings were found to fall into three major categories: processes, civilian-military dichotomy, and psycho/social impacts. Process concerns were focused on awarding of credit and admission processes. The group was able to offer insights and recommendations for improving processes for future cohorts such as identifying the need to develop crosswalks between military training/work and college credit. Suggestions such as providing information earlier to provide more time for admission processes was one of the strongest recommendations.

The second major category of responses was related to the civilian/military dichotomy. This category included crossover from the processes category such as concerns regarding the lack of translation between military work and training and the civilian work and academic environment. Participants had a strong sense of military identity/self and characterized themselves as being strong and resilient. The group viewed their military experiences as a strength. The participants strong military identity was expressed in the use of the word “we” when referring to the cohort identity as a collective. Although the group was made of different military branches, military service was seen as a unifying identity.

A third category of themes was related to the psycho/social aspects of their experience. The participants described high levels of support from faculty and peers, despite the stressful nature of academia. This category also included crossover from the military/civilian category. Military identity and grouping with others from the military into a cohort was seen as very positive. The strong support from peers was helpful to the cohort and they acknowledged that their military training prepared them to be resilient despite the stressful nature of their classes. The group felt well supported by faculty, staff, and the campus Veteran and Military Center.

Implications for Higher Education

Research related to veterans in higher education is growing, but at this point in time still lacks in studies of the student voice or description of the student experience in a way that would help educators know the veteran-student.¹¹ This study attempted to address that gap by soliciting the student’s perspective of a veteran program option for nursing students based on recommendations in the literature for recruitment and retention of military students. Although the sample was small, the findings indicate that there were many positive and supporting aspects of the program option, but there were also concerns relayed by students related to the challenges the students experienced. These findings provide insights for those in higher education.

Identifying how to translate military training into academic credit has been identified as a barrier for veterans, including those seeking health-care careers.¹² Despite a developed program of study to recognize military training and experience, students still expressed frustration with the amount of credit awarded and the process for awarding credit. A more effective and student-friendly process must be developed for granting credit based on military experience and training, especially for students who have training that may have less applicability to a college program of study such as infantry training. This may need to be done at a state, if not federal, level with collaborations between educators in higher education and the military. The Student Veterans of America recently identified business; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-related; liberal arts; and health professions as the top majors of military students. Therefore, universities and veteran-centered organizations should begin examining their local populations to determine educational pathways related to these degree areas.¹³ An example of work being done to address this issue is the Multi-State Collaborative for Military Credit in the Midwest to facilitate transfer and awarding of military credit.¹⁴

Another finding was that students identified a clear sense of identity as military members and commented positively on the cohort-based model developed for the program option. While it has been noted that some universities are moving away from cohort-based models for military-connected students, it appears that this type of model was a strength for the students in this project.¹⁵ There were numerous positive comments about the small cohort group. The team-based approach to health care may facilitate this feeling among this particular group of students in a nursing program, but the students also expressed how teamwork was an important component of success in the military—not just as military health-care team members. Despite the positive comments, concerns were raised about integration into larger classrooms with a hundred or more students as the students’ transition through the rest of their program. Although the veterans will be in small cohorts for clinical courses, cost constraints prohibit continuing the small cohort of military students for classroom courses after the first semester-these students will be incorporated into larger classes with a mix of veteran and nonveteran students as they progress over the next three semesters.

As public institutions of higher education experience significant budget cuts, finding creative opportunities to provide veteran-students opportunities for working together may be challenging but necessary to promote student success.¹⁶ In addition, this project implemented an approach with clear support structures in place that included faculty training, a dedicated advisor and tutor, a director with military experience, and partnerships with the local military hospital, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the university Veteran and Military Center. While the support services were effective, they were possible because of grant funding that may not be available across all educational settings in today’s environment of limited budgets. Despite these expenses, providing affordable support services will be a key factor in promoting veteran success in higher education. While this group of students did not particularly highlight any disability-related support service needs, those supports are available and should also be considered in any academic setting servicing veterans.¹⁷

Though students did indicate that they were resilient and had persevered as military members, they did find aspects of the program frustrating, including processes like admission, online compliance processes, and technology resources used in the classroom. There is a steep learning curve related to the university system and the various technology programs that can be very different from those in the military arena. Giving students ample resources and time to complete the required processes in academia will be helpful to ensure students feel ready for the first day of class. In addition, students require time and support services to be able to use the latest in educational technology.

Limitations. Limitations of the project included the small sample size (N=5) and the fact that the entire cohort was part of group that comprised both veteran and nonveteran students, yet only the veterans were interviewed. Therefore, differences between veterans and nonveterans cannot be determined. Participants were interviewed in a group and not individually, which may have limited the comments and stifled variability of responses among students.

Recommendations for future research. Continued work is needed to understand the experience of the student veteran in higher education. These veteran-students are living as students, veterans, and a combination of the two that makes them unique from other student populations. Further work examining the use of cohort-based models of education or other interventions used to promote student success from the student’s perspective are needed to help inform best practices in higher education. Given students must learn the role of “student,” are student outcomes better if cohorts are veteran only or mixed?

Conclusion

Veteran-students have unique backgrounds and skills that make them a welcome addition to college campuses. As more veterans take advantage of tuition assistance opportunities and pursue higher education, faculty and administrators must be aware of best-practice approaches to promote student success and provide our veterans opportunities they are seeking through higher education. The voices of these students provide thoughts for educators to better know this student population and their needs. Despite veteran-specific challenges, veteran-students have many strengths that, if capitalized upon, can lead to high levels of student achievement and create win-win opportunities for our veteran-student population as well as the colleges and universities that serve them.

This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UF1HP28522 and Wright State University Veteran’s Bachelor of Science Nursing Program for $954,117. This information or content and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. government.

Notes

1. Bruce C. Kelley, Justin M. Smith, and Ernetta L. Fox, Preparing Your Campus for Veterans’ Success: An Integrated Approach to Facilitating the Transition and Persistence of Our Military Students (Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing, 2013), 3.
2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Department of Veterans Affairs Education Program Beneficiaries: FY 2000 to FY 2013,” National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, last modified 20 February 2018, accessed 2 March 2018, https://www.va.gov/vetdata/Utilization.asp.
3. Kelley, Smith, and Fox, Preparing Your Campus, 4–5.
4. Ibid., 5.
5. Kelly L. Dyar, “Veterans in Transition: Implications for Nurse Educators,” Nursing Forum 51, no. 3 (2015): 175.
6. Cindy R. Snyder et al., “Pathways for Military Veterans to Enter Healthcare Careers” (Seattle: Center for Health Workforce Studies, University of Washington, May 2016), accessed 2 March 2018, http://depts.washington.edu/fammed/chws/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Pathways_for_Military_Veterans_FR_2016_May_Snyder.pdf.
7. Dyar, “Veterans in Transition,” 177.
8. Mikhail Zinshteyn, “Colleges Face a New Reality, as the Number of High School Graduates Will Decline,” The Hechinger Report, 6 December 2016, accessed 2 March 2018, http://hechingerreport.org/colleges-face-new-reality-number-high-schools-graduates-will-decline/.
9. “What Is NVivo?,” QSR International, accessed 2 March 2018, http://www.qsrinternational.com/nvivo/what-is-nvivo.
10. Yvonna Lincoln and Egon Guba, Naturalistic Inquiry (London: Sage Publications, 1985), 337–41.
11. Glenn A. Phillips and Yvonna S. Lincoln, “Introducing Veteran Critical Theory,” International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education 30, no. 7 (2017): 656–68.
12. Snyder et al., “Pathways for Military Veterans.”
13. Chris A. Cate et al., National Veteran Education Success Tracker: A Report on the Academic Success of Student Veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Washington, DC: Student Veterans of America, 2017), accessed 2 March 2018, http://nvest.studentveterans.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/NVEST-Report_FINAL.pdf.
14. “Multi-state Collaborative on Military Credit,” Midwestern Higher Education Compact, accessed 2 March 2018, http://www.mhec.org/multi-state-collaborative-on-military-credit.
15. Allie Grasgreen, “Veterans Only,” Inside Higher Ed, 4 January 2012, accessed 2 March 2018, https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/01/04/veterans-only-classes-both-expanding-and-closing.
16. Jon Marcus, “The Decline of the Midwest’s Public Universities Threatens to Wreck its Most Vibrant Economies,” The Atlantic (website), 15 October 2017, accessed 2 March 2018, https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/10/midwestern-public-research-universities-funding/542889/.
17. Kelley, Smith, and Fox, Preparing Your Campus, 5.

April 2018