Easing the Veterans' Transition to Higher Education

By Broadside Staff Writer Adam Silvain

Mason Military Outreach, in conjunction with the Office of Disability Services and George Mason Human Resources, hosted a web-based seminar entitled: Returning Veterans: Implications for Higher Education. The 90-minute seminar was part of an ongoing effort by the university to reach out to returning veterans with resources and services available to help them succeed as they return to the classroom.

Part of this effort has been influenced by a need to centralize scattered resources throughout the campus in a way that is more accessible to veteran students. Members of Mason Military Outreach, represented at this event by Co-Chair Stacey Remick-Simkins, have taken the initiative in creating this network of support.

In the words of Disability Services Director Christopher Moy, “The seminar is used to show the implications affecting the university community, and how we can all prepare ourselves to meet the needs of returning veterans.”

There were about 30 students, faculty and veterans in the audience, many of whom were MMO members, while some were simply looking for a better understanding of the specific needs and learning habits of their students. The “webinar,” given on Wednesday, Oct. 22 was delivered online with the use of a projection screen.

The presentation succeeded in drawing comparisons between the economic and political climates, as well as the injury and mortality rates in the last three major wars—WWII, Vietnam, War in Iraq and Afghanistan—and how they have impacted higher education. Statistics signified that improved medical technology has translated to lower death rates but much more disabilities in returning veterans from recent wars.

The health of the economy when soldiers return has also proven to have a major impact on their ability to financially afford their education. The current educational benefits offered to veterans are proven to be disproportionate in relation to rising tuition prices, especially in private institutions. Efforts have been made, especially on the state level, to make higher education more affordable for in-state veterans, and it is expected that changes will occur on a national level, following an eventual withdrawal from Iraq.

It appeared the greatest concern for veterans returning from combat was adjusting to the campus community in general. David Alpher, one of the event hosts, shared this opinion and offered his own experiences on the issue.

An adjunct professor in conflict resolution and analysis, graduate student, and veteran himself, Alpher said, “The biggest transition is the massive differences in the way you interact in a place like [the military], than the way you interact here. You are forced to retrain yourself into different levels of intensity, directness and interaction.

On a day-to-day level, just sitting in class and having a student sitting next to you share a loud point of view, it is easy to react harshly because you have been there. This represents a real clash in points of view between students, and if students and professors can address that, everyone benefits.”

With the efforts of experienced faculty members, veterans and university officials, MMO hopes to make the transition from soldier to student as smooth as possible, making sure they are aware of the benefits and services available to them. The last step of this process, being sure that employers are aware of the unique skills that veterans can bring to the workplace, enabling them to recognize Mason as a first source for new employment.