Post–Combat Veteran College Students: Issues Influencing Academic Engagement and Success

• In Event: 18.073 - Poster Session 3
  In Poster Session: 18.073-4 - College Students' Political Identity, Fluency, and Campus-Community Partnerships

Abstract

Two million American troops have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and are ideal prospective college students. Fifty per cent are eligible for disability benefits and 20% of veterans return from combat with some form of PTSD. Using their GI Bill benefits to enroll in higher and postsecondary education has begun to create new educational issues and challenges to design and redesign higher and postsecondary education policies and strategies to ensure their transition back into American society, learning gains, academic success and persistence to graduation and gainful employment. This qualitative study investigated effects of military combat on student veterans’ academic engagement, and data analyses produced three themes: Combat Tour Effects, Compensation Strategies, and Campus Environments.

Authors

• Sean Berryman, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

• Jim Vander Putten, University of Arkansas at Little Rock