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Date of Graduation
Spring 2014
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Educational Specialist (EdS)
Department
Department of Graduate Psychology
Advisor(s)
Anne Stewart
A. Renee Staton
Lennis G. Echterling
Abstract
Following the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (GI Bill), higher education witnessed a nationwide influx of student veterans. In the last decade, this population has continued to gain significant momentum as a result of the educational benefits offered to service members and their families within the Post-9/11 GI Bill of 2008. James Madison University recognized this growing trend and researched how to best serve the academic and personal needs of the student veteran community by conducting a needs assessment. The data from the needs assessment and literature from several university veteran taskforces were reviewed and used to develop program recommendations at JMU. These recommendations outlined the need for an advanced registration policy for student veterans; the creation of a veteran center; stronger focus on veterans within the orientation program; and the development of a training program for faculty and staff to broaden their understanding of student veterans. The survey results also emphasized how student veterans differ demographically from their civilian-student peers and appear to generally be older, married, have a child, work full time, and have a more developed sense of personal identity.
Recommended Citation
Hayden, Jessica Catherine, "Serving those who served: Understanding the needs of student veterans" (2014). Educational Specialist, 2009-2019. 52.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/edspec201019/52
