Surprisingly few empirical studies examine the experience of veterans as they transition into community college. Using Schlossberg’s transition model and 4S framework—situation, self, supports, and strategies—this article portrays a subset of findings from a qualitative study involving recent military veterans transitioning into community college. Findings comprise biographical vignettes of two female veterans entering their first year of community college. Although the findings align with some existing research, this study illustrates the complex and nuanced issues that veteran students face, including strained finances and lack of familiarity with college structure. For female veterans, these issues are often further complicated by circumstances such as motherhood and marriage.
AckermanR.DiRamioD. (Eds.). (2009). Creating a veteran-friendly campus: Strategies for transition success [special issue]. New Directions for Student Services, 2009(126), 1-94.
2.
AstinA. W. (1984). Student involvement: A developmental theory for higher education. Journal of College Student Personnel, 25, 134.
3.
BonarT. C.DomeniciP. L. (2011). Counseling and connecting with the military undergraduate: The intersection of military service and university life. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 25, 204-219.
4.
BrownP. A.GrossC. (2011). Serving those who have served—Managing veteran and military student best practices. Journal of Continuing Higher Education, 59, 45-49.
5.
CappsR. (2012). Supporting adult-student persistence in community college. Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 44(2), 38-44.
6.
ChavesC. (2006). Involvement, development, and retention theoretical foundations and potential extensions for adult community college students. Community College Review, 34, 139-152.
7.
ChurchT. E. (2009). Returning veterans on campus with war related injuries and the long road back home. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 22(1), 43-52.
8.
DiRamioD.JarvisK. (Eds.). (2011). Veterans in higher education: When Johnny and Jane come marching to campus. ASHE Higher Education Report, 37(3), 1-144.
9.
DiRamioD.AckermanR.MitchellR. L. (2008). From combat to campus: Voices of student veterans. NASPA Journal, 45(1), 73-102.
10.
EarlM. (1973). Veterans guidance and counseling: Suggestions for an effective veterans program for colleges. Los Angeles: California University, Los Angeles, Western Center for Veterans Programs. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED081423.pdf
11.
HainesD. (2013). “More aware of everything”: Exploring the returnee experience in American higher education. Journal of Studies in International Education, 17, 19-38.
12.
MarshallC.RossmanG. B. (2006). Designing qualitative research (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
13.
McBainL.KimY.CookB.SneadK. (2012). From soldier to student II: Assessing campus programs for veterans and service members. Washington, DC: American Council on Education.
14.
MerriamS. B. (1988). Case study research in education: A qualitative approach. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
PerskyK. R.OliverD. E. (2010). Veterans coming home to the community college: Linking research to practice. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 35, 111-120. doi:10.1080/10668926.2011.525184
17.
RankinK. R.KatsinasS. G.HardyD. E. (2011). Community college retention and access issues: A view from the field. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 12, 211-223.
18.
RumannC.RiveraM.HernandezI. (2011). Student veterans and community colleges. New Directions for Community Colleges, 2011(155), 51-58.
19.
RyanS. W.CarlstromA. H.HarrisB. S.HugheyK. F. (2011). From boots to books: Applying Schlossberg’s model to transitioning American veterans. NACADA Journal, 31, 55-63.
20.
SargentA. G.SchlossbergN. (1988). Managing adult transitions. Training & Development Journal, 42(12), 58-61.
SchlossbergN. K. (1981). A model for analyzing human adaptation to transition. The Counseling Psychologist, 9(2), 1-18.
23.
SchlossbergN. K. (2011). The challenge of change: The transition model and its applications. Journal of Employment Counseling, 48, 159-162.
24.
ShackelfordA. L. (2009). Documenting the needs of student veterans with disabilities: Intersection roadblocks, solutions, and legal realities. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 22, 36-42.
25.
WheelerH. A. (2012). Veterans’ transitions to community college: A case study. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 36, 775-792.
26.
WursterK. G.RinaldiA. P.WoodsT. S.Ming LuiW. (2013). First generation student veterans: Implications of poverty for psychotherapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62, 127-137.
27.
YinR. K. (2002). Case study design: Research and methods (3rd ed.). Newbury Park, CA: SAGE.
