Military-Connected Student Academic Success at 4-Year Institutions: A Multi-Institution Study

Abstract

We examined how the experiences-academic, financial, social, and personal-and relationship factors of military-connected students attending a 4-year institution are associated with their academic success. This multi-institution study highlights the demographic characteristics, experiences, and campus relationships that are associated with military-connected students' GPA. Author). Although this research is important, it is also necessary to understand how these experiences may be associated with their academic success. This study examines how militaryconnected student experiences are associated with one such outcome: college grade point average (GPA). Disciplines MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT SUCCESS 3 Purpose of the StudyThe purpose of this multi-institution study was to identify the demographic characteristics, experiences, and campus relationships that are associated with military-connected students' GPA. This study was based on the research question: What academic, financial, social, personal and relationship factors were associated with cumulative GPA for military-connected students attending four-year institutions? The experiences of military-connected students have The findings from this study may provide higher education institutions with strategies to leverage campus resources to best meet the academic needs of military-connected students. The findings also have implications that may be useful to faculty members in the classroom and student and academic affairs staff managing support resources for military-connected students.In addition to institutions acting as effective stewards of tax dollars allocated to serve the country's military personnel, it is imperative that policy-makers understand factors related to academic success. Application of these findings could influence how funds are allocated as well MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT SUCCESS 4 as how the military prepares veterans and service members to be academically successful within the college environment. Review of LiteratureCollege campuses have seen an influx in the number of military-connected students with the passing of the Post-9/11Veterans Educational Assistance Act in 2008, commonly referred to as the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill (Bauman, 2013;Cate, 2014;De Sawal, 2013;Rumann et al., 2011). (2010) noted that military-connected students had heightened feelings of maturity and academic goal commitment. This study also highlighted the impact of interactions with peers, including those that validated military-connected students in their study (fellow military peers) and those that invalidated military-connected students (civilian students or faculty sharing stereotypes of military experiences with limited knowledge). Schiavone and Gentry (2014) found that the participants perceived they had not only gained maturity and greater sense of the world through their military experiences but also that this maturity left them feeling disconnected from peers whom they perceived as less mature. Participants in Schiavone and Gentry's study also shared symptom...

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