In our modern world, it is difficult to imagine a world without the Internet. Students can learn in front of screens next to their pets rather than their peers. Faculty teach without the ability to truly interact with their students. Staff provide services to the entire student body without anybody on campus. The entire higher education structure has been altered by the ability to teach class online. Additionally, the delivery of tertiary education has constantly changed and fluctuated throughout the past few years. Some campuses are fully online, whereas others are completely back in-person. It is important to discuss and understand the challenges of how this affects the military-affiliated community. It exorbitantly influences their experience, especially those who chose to attend an in-person degree program.

Differences Between Virtual and Traditional Lecture Students
Many factors may persuade someone to elect to earn their degree via an online program rather than in a classroom. Time, money, familial responsibilities, and work commitments are just a few elements that could sway a student to apply for an online program. Research shows that there are several differences between online and traditional lecture students. First, online students are generally older and gauge work, reduced commuting time, and studying flexibility as most important in determining their course format. Traditional students prefer contact with instructors and fellow students, find motivation in-class meetings, and need to hear a lecture in person rather than through a computer speaker.

The Switch to Online
To those that already elected to take their degree program online, March 2020 did not have as much of a profound effect compared to those who originally chose to participate in a traditional in-person lecture degree program. Traditional lecture students found themselves stuck behind a screen at home rather than at school. Although attending school online saves time, money, and maybe even some stress, it does present challenges for those not prepared for online learning.

It is worth paying particular attention to the military-affiliated community that may be feeling heightened effects of the switch to online courses. Military students, often entering the higher education realm after completing their military service, may lack a support system in the beginning. After separating from the military, student veterans often yearn for a similar community provided by the military. Close friendships and akin experiences with coworkers bond veterans for life, and that community often does not follow them to campus. Therefore, many student veterans rely on on-campus groups, such as Student Veterans of America chapters, for socializing and meeting new people. With the switch to online instruction, this system may be unable to provide substantial support for veterans that may lack a coherent social network. This is especially true when club meetings and national conferences are canceled, eliminating the ability for veterans to come together.

On the other hand, student veterans' minds are highly adaptable. The fast-changing military environment provides a training base for acclimating to unexpected circumstances. Although this community is most likely equipped to deal with these surprising changes and may not ask for help, it is important to continue providing support to this unique group of people with different experiences than that of the normal higher education student.

Hidden Opportunities
Online classes may provide an opportunity for student veterans to make connections with fellow students without carrying the label of being military-affiliated at first glance. Student veterans are often older, married, and have children. Oftentimes, undergraduate student veterans do not fit the typical description of an undergraduate student at first glance. Those initial biases formed on the first days of class can elicit reactions from the general student population that may not always be positive. Due to preconceptions of what the military is and does, current university students may not want to associate with veterans. Many people link veterans with having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can influence the way they are viewed on a college campus. Although the expected number of those affected by PTSD is most likely double the reported number, the idea that all veterans have some sort of disability, whether it be visible or invisible, is dangerous to their success on campus. Online classes provide an opportunity to be a more traditional student as characteristics typically associated with the military may be masked by a laptop camera.

Additionally, some student veterans do not want to carry the label of being military affiliated. The label of being military-affiliated may not even be claimed by those who have served. Online learning can be advantageous to those that are automatically labeled as a veteran due to their appearance. Through a computer screen, it is harder to establish some implicit biases that may be very prevalent in a classroom.

Each veteran needs varied support. Although the switch to online classes left many veterans without their close support systems, it also improved the higher education experience of others as they did not have to manage others' preconceived notions of their personalities and past. Campuses need to ask what they can do to better prepare the veteran community for unexpected crises, especially ones that excessively disrupt daily life. It may take some trial and error in programming, but with the right conversations, we can provide the best service to our military-affiliated communities on campus.

Article Topics

Military Friendly Institutions Research on Student Veterans Serving Military in HigherEd Veterans Academic Success Workplace Inclusion

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