Transitioning from military to college: a pilot course developed for veterans to help them succeed in their first year of college.

• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2047/D20208902

Student veterans face particular challenges not typical of the general student population. In an effort to develop a pilot course intended to help student veterans transition from the military to college, this qualitative study sought to evaluate existing university veteran transition programs and courses and determine factors that appear to be working at top military friendly institutions. To help examine the continuing need for and elements of a successful transition course for veterans, interviews were conducted with experts in the area of student veterans' transition, and a document review conducted to ascertain the type of veterans' success programs/courses currently available. This study found 1) that institutions of higher education can improve the success and retention of student veterans by offering courses that assist them in their transition to the academic environment and careers as civilians and 2) that there are gaps in existing programs and courses that can be filled by modifying, expanding, and combining currently existing courses. In an attempt to do so, the researcher designed a pilot course to help first year student veterans' transition into higher education and later the workplace. Specifically, the pilot course is designed with the primary focus of transitioning from military to college, making meaning of the transition and adding elements of civilian career exploration. The pilot course allows veterans to apply their military experiences to their future efforts as college students and civilians. This study adds to the research that has been conducted in the past decade into the lives and success (or lack thereof) of student veterans, and reiterates the need for higher education to create spaces for learning where student veterans are welcomed and supported. Because of their unique needs, which the pilot course seeks to meet, purposeful attempts by institutions of higher to improve the learning environment of student veterans will undoubtedly lead to an improved learning environment for all students.