Supported by considerable public investment through post-9/11 higher education benefits, student military service members/veterans (SSM/Vs) have been one of the fastest-growing groups of nontraditional students in American universities in recent years. Despite their increased numbers and potential to diversify science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical (STEMM) fields, little research has explored SSM/V academic development and success across university STEMM contexts. This mixed methods study used social capital theory to explore links between STEMM SSM/V social support and a sense of campus belonging—shown to be important to achievement among traditionally marginalized college students—within 4-year campus communities. Social network analyses of surveys indicated that larger SSM/V support networks, including on and off-campus social ties as well as student and university educator ties, positively correlated with campus belonging. Social support networks with military ties, traditionally seen to benefit SSM/V college integration, did not correlate. Interview responses suggested that while belonging can be discouraged among SSM/Vs by military-associated STEMM imposter feelings, it is fostered through student friendship, faculty care, and veteran- focused campus support. Results underscored the importance of authentic interaction as well as purposeful efforts to bring SSM/Vs together with fellow students, educators, and staff.
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Tracing student military service member/veteran social network change and career paths through the COVID-19 pandemic: A two phase survey study
Given the importance of social support networks to SSM/Vs as well as the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, this research brief uses data from two surveys of a panel of SSM/Vs (n=375) to explore correlations between pre-pandemic social support networks and negative academic or career impacts of the pandemic. It also studies how social support network change through the pandemic—including the addition, loss, and/or replacement of social ties between the spring of 2020 (Time 1) and the late fall of 2021 (Time 2)—might be associated with negative impacts. Findings indicate that SSM/Vs with more campus social ties felt the sting of campus closures more than SSM/Vs without such ties. Results also suggest that SSM/Vs with higher network turnover through the pandemic—including the addition, loss, and/or replacement of core network ties—had more negative pandemic-related academic and career impacts.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1920482
- PAR ID:
- 10586659
- Publisher / Repository:
- Veteran Education to Workforce Affinity and Success Study (VETWAYS), Wisconsin Center for Education Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Date Published:
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- student veterans STEM higher education social networks COVID-19
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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