Author Biography

With the return of fall, those of us in higher education are once again welcoming new students to campus! A formal orientation is one way we enrich this process. Importantly, an effective student orientation can lay the foundation for future student success and retention. This is particularly applicable in the case of student veterans.

In dedicated efforts to increase veteran enrollment in, and graduation from, the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program at The College of St. Scholastica (CSS) the veteran cohort model has been the most significant in promoting student success. The BSN program now has a 96 percent graduation rate. Pearson and White advocate that the same cohort model could be implemented in other degree programs.

College faculty will have instances in which they realize there are military veterans in their class. This article will highlight certain ideas that faculty need to be aware of in order to foster a supportive classroom environment for veterans. As with all of our articles, this is not an exhaustive list but does provide a firm foundation for faculty that are working with veterans in the classroom. 

When you hear that somebody is a veteran, what comes to mind? What does the term "veteran" really mean? What does this status entail? Within the classification of "veteran," there are many layers that make this a unique group with varying backgrounds and experiences.