Issue Overview

By: Erick James

Military Veterans Transition to College Life

A twenty-two year old man returned to society with very little money, no education, and a few bad habits. It may sound like he was just released from prison but he was getting out of the Marine Corps. The first time he stepped on a college campus he felt awkward. He felt he was too old and could not relate to his younger classmates. The University of Oregon has several organizations on campus such as the Veterans Family Student Association (VFSA) and the Nontraditional and Veteran Education Support that helps veterans transition to college life.

There are approximately 800,000 veterans attending college or some type of vocational school, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2012. These veterans need help transitioning to college life. According to an article on NBCNEWS.com, 88 percent of veterans that go to college will dropout. This is due to feeling isolated and frustrated at their attempts to blend into college life.

There are ways to lower the 88 percent dropout rate according to Wendy Lang, the director of Operation College Promise a military focus group developed by the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities. A study that Lang conducted was profiled in an article on Inside Higher ED and was written by Elizabeth Murphy. The study included six universities. With the proper support and programs available the study found that veteran students earn an average grade point average of 3.04. Also the retention rate was 94 percent for the first year and 75 percent for the second year. About 71 percent of the students earned all the credits they pursued.

My issue will cover how veterans transition to college life here at the University of Oregon.