Veterans Coming Home to the Community College: Linking Research to Practice

Community colleges must prepare for change as increasing numbers of students who are veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars use their post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to join the colleges' diverse student bodies. Based on the findings of a mixed methods case study, needs of veterans at the community college are framed and discussed within five major themes that emerged from the data: credit streamlining; streamlining of programs and services; faculty, advisor, and counselor training; difficulties encountered by veterans; and factors that constitute a veteran-friendly campus. Related recommendations are offered regarding programs and services to provide essential support for these students.