Teaching and Learning in Higher Education With Implications for Student Veterans

Abstract

This chapter explores the unique challenges faced by veterans as they transition from military service to higher education. The authors discuss the psychological, social, and academic barriers encountered, such as professional uncertainty, social isolation, and adapting from a regimented military environment to the less structured civilian academic world. Using personal narratives and theoretical frameworks like Schlossberg’s Transition Theory, the chapter highlights the difficulties veterans experience, including managing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), financial constraints, and the cultural disconnect in classrooms. The authors advocate for institutional support systems tailored to veterans, including counseling, peer networks, and faculty engagement, to facilitate smoother transitions. By addressing these challenges, the chapter provides actionable recommendations to enhance the academic success and well-being of student veterans as they navigate higher education.