From Service Member to Student: A Qualitative Examination of Student-Veterans' Experiences of Campus Safety

• In Event: 18.073 - Poster Session 3
  In Poster Session: 18.073-7 - From Service Member to Student: A Qualitative Examination of Student-Veterans' Experiences of Campus Safety

Abstract

In a time of heightened attention and resources devoted to issues of safety and security in higher education, it is important to identify how matters of safety on U.S. college and university campuses influence the experiences for all students. In this study, we explored the impact of various dimensions of the campus safety landscape – institutional structures, social interactions, and physical facilities – on the experience of several student-veterans. Using a framework rooted in positive psychology, we found that the student-veterans in our study were particularly suited to add value to the campus safety landscape based on skills gained through their military experiences, including situational awareness. Several actionable implications for institutional leaders are offered.

Authors

• Nate Cradit, National Louis University

• Wayne Hutchison, Michigan State University

• Marc Hunsaker, Michigan State University