Military Connected Student Perspectives of a Large Public University's Veteran Career Development Program

Abstract

This empirical study investigated military connected student perspectives at a large public university concerning any benefits gained by their involvement with the university’s career center’s inceptive veteran specific career development program referred to by the pseudonym, Student Veteran Career Development Transitional Program. Participants for this program were all former or current military service members currently enrolled as college students and ranged from five to twenty student veterans. The central research question was, “What are the participating military connected student perspectives as to if and how the program sessions and material may help them find civilian employment in their future career goals?” Methods such as participant observation, observation, program participant questionnaires, and a reflection summary from the program coordinator were used to gather data, which was inductively analyzed. Resultant findings looked at perspectives of participating stakeholders, which supported this study’s assertion that the Student Veteran Career Development Transitional Program was positive in enhancing university military connected students’ future employability.

Keywords

• student veteran, military connected student, employability, career development, university career center veteran program