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Managing the Transition to Higher Education for Service Members

by Jennifer Rea, PhD

Have you ever seen the movie Back to School? The plot of this 1986 film centers on a wealthy, uneducated father, Thornton Melon (Rodney Dangerfield). Thornton enrolls in college with his son, Jason (Keith Gordon), to show solidarity and the importance of earning an education.

Service members (SMs) and veteransmilitary/civilian photo transitioning to higher education may find themselves relating well to Dangerfield’s character, as they are likely to be older in age than their fellow classmates (Jenner, 2017). In fact, only 15% of student veterans (SVs) are traditionally aged college students (i.e., under 25 years old). That is, most SVs are between the ages of 24 and 40.

The “Non-Traditional Student”
SVs are generally identified as “non-traditional students” as 47% of SVs have children, 47% are married, 42% work full-time jobs, and 66% are first-generation students (MentalHealth.VA.Gov, 2014). These differences may leave SVs feeling as though they don’t “fit in” on the college campus. They may also perceive this as an indicator that they are behind in their educational success (Blackwell-Starnes, 2018).

SVs also differ from the “traditional college student” in that their transition to higher education is a necessity (Jenner, 2017). In fact, one of the top reasons why individuals enlist in the military is to have access to educational benefits to pay for college (Boyd, Slate, & Barnes, 2019).

Many Enroll, but Few Complete
Although the financial burden to attend and complete higher education has been minimized due to the creation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, other barriers persist. In fact, low rates of bachelor’s degree attainment and high rates of dropout and stop-out (i.e., withdraw temporarily from higher education in order to pursue another activity) are among returning veterans (Jenner, 2017).

blog photoSince 2017, 822,327 veterans attended college, and of these 54% completed their degrees, while 18% are currently enrolled. These are promising statistics as the overall average college completion rate among non-veteran students is only slightly higher at 58% (Nadworny, 2019). However, these statistics indicate that more than a quarter of veterans (28%) who enroll in college are no longer enrolled and left before completing their degree (Blackwell- Starnes, 2018)

A Challenging Transition Made Smooth
Below I’ve compiled a list of the most commonly mentioned obstacles affecting SV success in higher education –the things that are likely influencing SV college completion rates. Although challenges exist as SMs transition to higher education, there are approaches that can help address their concerns. Therefore, I’ve also provided strategies for professionals as they serve SVs and their families to help make the transition to higher education as smooth as possible.

chart 1chart 2

Keep in Mind: Some SVs may be afraid to disclose graduate salutingtheir veteran identity to faculty or classmates because they fear potential stigma. Many SVs have perceived public stigma as a significant barrier to accessing mental health care services.

Thus, caution is warranted for professionals supporting SVs as they engage in the previously mentioned strategies. This should also be taken into account when incorporating the strategies provided below for SVs themselves.

Strategies for Student Veterans & Families

  • Check out these 5 steps to prepare for higher education from Military OneSource.
  • Reach out to your school’s Military and Veterans Services Coordinator or Veterans Services Center for support.
  • Try to keep communication open with your family, faculty members, educational staff, and your campus Veterans Center –voicing your goals, desires, and challenges.
  • Continue to ask questions, especially ones that pertain to your educational benefits and academic support.
  • Consider working in targeted academic services such as the campus writing center to foster a sense of belonging on campus.

 

This article was written by Jennifer Rea, PhD and military spouse of an Active Duty Marine. Jenny consults with the MFLN Family Transitions team to support professional development for military family service providers. You may find more blogs, podcasts and webinars from Family Transitions here. We invite you to engage with Family Transitions on Twitter @MFLNFT and with MFLN on Facebook @MilitaryFamilies.

 

References
Blackwell-Starnes, K. (2018). At ease: Developing veterans’ sense of belonging in the college classroom. Journal of Veterans Studies, 3(1), 18-36.

Boyd, C. D., Slate, J. R., & Barnes, W. (2019). Differences in the perception of educational benefits between male and female veterans in the United States: A national study. Journal of Interdisciplinary Sciences, 3(1), 27-36.

Cruise, T. R., & Misawa, M. (2019). “Resources for Military Veterans in Higher Education: A Web-Based Content Analysis,” Adult Education Research Conference. Retrieved from https://newprairiepress.org/aerc/2019/papers/6

Jenner, B. M. (2017). Student veterans and the transition to higher education: Integrating existing literatures. Journal of Veterans Studies, 2(2), 26-44.

MentalHealth.VA.Gov. (2014). Who are Today’s Student Veterans? Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/studentveteran/studentvets.asp

Military OneSource. (2019). Education & Employment. Retrieved from https://www.militaryonesource.mil/web/mos/education-employment

Nadworny, E. (2019, March 13). College completion rates are up, but the numbers will still surprise you. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2019/03/13/681621047/college- completion-rates-are-up-but-the-numbers-will-still-surprise-you

Walter, A. (2019). Challenges faced by US student veterans transitioning to a community college. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from Walden University Scholar Works.

 

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Be a Diet Detective: Spotting a Fad Weight Loss Diet

Detective Diet

By: Annabelle Shaffer, BS, Master’s candidate in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

With the new year, often comes diets promising quick and incredible results. The diet typically sounds simple: “Eat this one food and see awesome weight loss results!” or “Don’t eat this food group to lose weight!”. These diets are known as fad diets. Below, you’ll learn how to detect a fad diet and how to identify a healthful diet.

Warning Signs of a Fad Diet

  • The diet requires cutting an entire food group. There are five food groups: dairy, fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein foods. Each group provides health benefits. Dairy products are rich in calcium. Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of vitamin and minerals, and grains contain fiber. Protein foods, such as beans, eggs, and meats, help maintain muscle mass. While it can be healthful to limit the intake of certain foods, such as fried food, it is not necessary to eliminate an entire food group.
  • The diet makes outlandish claims, such as “Lose 10 pounds of belly fat in 1 week!”. Healthful weight loss consists of losing 1-2 pounds weekly. If the diet results in quick and substantial weight loss, it poses a danger to your body by breaking down your skeletal and cardiac muscle. Unless your doctor has prescribed a rapid weight loss diet, such as before bariatric surgery, do not attempt a diet with these claims.
  • The diet has unsustainable components, such as eating one specific food, like a meal shake or a particular juice. Diets that consist of one food, such as juice, shakes, or soup, may yield weight loss, but they are not sustainable. When we lose weight safely, we can lower our blood pressure and improve our insulin sensitivity, but if we regain that weight, we will lose those benefits. Always ask yourself: Can I sustain this for a lifetime?
  • The diet lacks support from science or is only using information from a single study. Before you embark on a new diet, research it! Use library search tools or the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed) to find studies using the diet. Look for peer-reviewed studies with a large number of participants and results repeated by other scientists. Registered Dietitians and physicians are also excellent resources.

We know what not to look for in a diet, but how can you find a safe, effective, and sustainable diet? Look for eating plans with the characteristics below:

 References

  1. Fad Diets | Cleveland Clinic. (2020). Retrieved 1 February 2020, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9476-fad-diets
  2. Key Recommendations. (2020). Retrieved 1 February 2020, from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/recommen.htm
  3. Staying Away from Fad Diets. (2020). Retrieved 1 February 2020, from https://www.eatright.org/health/weight-loss/fad-diets/staying-away-from-fad-diets