Higher Education as a Tool for Veterans in Transition: Battling the Challenges

Abstract

The study’s purpose is twofold and examines (a) major challenges veterans may encounter while enrolled in higher education, and (b) veterans’ perceptions of utilizing higher education as a transitional tool to the civilian workforce. A qualitative design was employed in this study. Data were collected utilizing three focus groups (N = 11). The findings concerning veterans’ challenges in pursuit of higher education are the following: (a) us versus them, (b) difference in the learning environment, (c) institutional barriers, and (d) networking. The current study provides an additional discussion platform for educators, institutions of higher education, and veterans affairs departments—it is a potential opportunity to design learning environments, policies, and practices that will enhance the overall process of veterans’ transitions and create environments in higher education that are truly veteran-friendly.

Keywords:

• Student veterans
• transition
• higher education

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yvonne Hunter-Johnson

Yvonne Hunter-Johnson holds a PhD in Adult Education from University of South Florida in Adult Education with emphasis in Human Resource Development, Research and Evaluation. Currently, she is an Associate Professor at North Carolina A&T State University. Dr. Hunter-Johnson’s research interest is nontraditional adult learners (specifically international students and veterans transitioning to the civilian workplace). Dr. Hunter-Johnson is actively involved in the field of Adult Education and Human Resource Development.

Tingting Liu

Tingting Liu is a doctoral candidate within the Department of Workforce Education and Development at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale). She holds a Master of Arts in Education with the concentration of Pedagogy in Pepperdine University. Her research interests include human resource development, adult education, human resource management, workforce diversity, and scholarship of teaching and learning.

Kayon Murray

Dr. Kayon Murray-Johnson is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education (Adult Education) at the University of Rhode Island. She holds a PhD in Adult, Professional and Community Education from Texas State University. Her current research interest is in Adult and Higher Education and focuses on Creative Teaching Strategies, Faculty Development, Multicultural Education, Immigrant, and International Students’ Learning Experiences.

Yuanlu Niu

Dr. Yuanlu Niu is an Assistant Professor of Human Resource and Workforce Development at the University of Arkansas. She holds a PhD in Education with a concentration in the Workforce Education and Development and an MBA from Southern Illinois University (Carbondale). Her research focuses on discrimination in the workplace, human resource development, adult education, women’s studies, and workforce diversity.

Malinda Suprise

Malinda Suprise is a doctoral candidate within the Department of Industrial and Organization Psychology at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale). She received her BA in Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and her MA in Applied Psychology from Southern Illinois University (Carbondale). Her research interests surround social influence on workplace behavior, diversity, and inclusion as part of the employee lifecycle, research methodology, and program evaluation.