Student Service Member and Veteran Transitions Into the University: A Cultural Analysis

• In Event: Asserting Institutional Commitment to Supporting Students at the Margins

Abstract

With the establishment of wide-ranging post-9/11 state and federal postsecondary tuition and living benefits, military service member and veteran university enrollment has increased exponentially over the last decade. Few studies examining these students’ difficult transitions into universities, however, focus on the military and university as distinct cultural spheres, limiting the precision and utility of findings for college educators looking to better support this population. Using field and cultural domain theory and freelisting interview techniques (n=54), this study investigates cultural differences between the military and university and how students believe these differences influence their college transitions. Results show the perceived absence of camaraderie in universities, in particular, pointing to the importance of social support and community-building efforts to mitigate transitional challenges.

Author

• Ross J. Benbow, University of Wisconsin - Madison