The Use of University Services and Student Retention: Differential Links for Student Service Members or Veterans and Civilian Students

Grounded in research and theory on college student retention, this study assessed differences in the use of various university services and the influence of key personnel on retention-related outcomes of student service members or veterans (SSM/Vs) compared with civilian students. Participants included 386 students, 199 (154 male, 45 female) of which were SSM/Vs and 187 (87 male, 100 female) were civilian students. Data were collected via electronic survey. Analyses revealed that civilian students visited advisors and faculty more frequently than SSM/Vs; no differences were evident for visits to registrars’ offices, financial aid offices, or student organizations. Visits to advisors and faculty were positively related to SSM/Vs’ expectations for degree completion and perception of university environment, yet unrelated to civilian students’ outcomes. Overall, this work suggests that university officials should invest in educating the personnel who are most influential in SSM/Vs outcomes about the unique needs of student veterans.