10 Tips to Educate Faculty and Staff on the Unique Needs of Military Students
Student veterans and military service members represent a significant portion of the college population in the United States. However, even though their experiences have the potential to enrich classroom discussions, faculty and staff may benefit from understanding the unique challenges and strengths that these individuals bring to the table. Education and awareness are crucial to creating a more inclusive and supportive campus culture for all students, particularly those who are military-affiliated.
Below are ten tips to help college faculty and staff better understand the needs of military-connected students.
Understand Military Culture
The first step in educating yourself and others about student veterans and military service members is understanding the military culture. All service branches have distinctive cultures, but all are centered on ideals of selfless service, loyalty, and mission. Understanding these motivations can help you communicate effectively with student veterans and military service members. While it’s possible to research and present this type of instruction on your own, it would be most beneficial to have someone who is connected to the community assist with this. More than likely, there are veterans and military spouses on your staff.
Identify team members who have a connection to the military and enlist their expertise with this effort.
Learn about Their Experiences
Take the time to understand the experiences that student veterans and military service members have had, the challenges they faced, and how they have grown and changed due to their service. Listen to their stories without judgment, and recognize the unique skills, strengths, and values they bring to the college campus. Feature these stories on campus blogs, internal newsletters, or external content platforms.
Host a series of focus groups or interviews with student veterans and share what you discover.
Identify Possible Challenges
Student veterans and military service members may experience many challenges as they transition to college life. In keeping with other adult learners, they tend to be first-generation students, perhaps with families and a job they juggle in addition to their studies. Make sure that you are familiar with the resources available on and off campus to support these individuals and know how to refer them to these resources if needed. Also, be sure to encourage help-seeking behavior with this typically selfless student demographic.
Be attentive to the challenges expressed, and make an effort to engage with nearby resources and organizations, including those available on campus, that can address these needs.
Avoid Stereotypes
Stereotypes about military service members can be harmful and may contribute to feelings of isolation and mistrust. Avoid making assumptions about what a student veteran or military service member may be like based on their service record or personal background. Though there are prevalent commonalities with some characteristics of post-service life, they’re not all “issued” the same traits upon leaving service. For example, it is important to acknowledge the challenges that many veterans face with mental health and PTSD. However, it is crucial to avoid generalizing their struggles or perpetuating any stigma surrounding their service. Doing so can lead to unintended negative consequences and harm.
Veterans, like any large swath of people, are not a monolyth.
Provide Accessible Information
Ensure information about VA resources and veteran support services is easily accessible to military-connected students. Anytime you can provide information in straightforward, concise, and easy-to-understand way — do! This is true for most students, but it is especially valued when it comes to veterans. Given how much time they spend mired down navigating bureaucratic processes and systems (like the VA), any break from that is welcomed.
Being direct isn't something to shy away from with this population. Checklists and “orders" can actually be quite comforting!
Offer Cultural Competency Training
Provide cultural competency training to college faculty and staff to help them understand military-connected students’ unique needs and otherwise untapped potential to enhance the classroom and campus. This training should cover military culture, demographics, types of benefits and resources they have access to, and some challenges they face, as well as best practices for student success that may affect veterans, active duty, and military spouse students.
Compile the learnings you’ve already gathered and share them as a professional development opportunity.
Foster Community
Creating a supportive community on campus can help student veterans and military service members feel more connected and involved in campus life. Encourage them to participate in campus organizations and events and introduce them to other students who may share similar experiences. They should not be an island unto themselves but rather aim to integrate veterans into the broader university support strategy.
While it is important for veterans to have a space to convene with other veterans, be sure not to silo them off. Create ample opportunity to make all campus community events inclusive.
Recognize Achievements and Contributions
Student veterans and military service members have a wealth of knowledge and experience that can be valuable in the classroom and beyond. Recognize their achievements and contributions to the college community, and encourage others to do the same. When your faculty and staff are aware of the qualities, experiences, and traits that veterans share, it’s easier to spot the opportunities to highlight them as examples or classroom leaders. Lean into those opportunities, but start with making that visibility a priority.
Be sure to keep lines of commuincation open across all veteran-facing departments so that when opportunities for recognition surface, then can be amplified!
Practice Empathy
Practice empathy when working with student veterans and military service members. Put yourself in their shoes and try to understand their perspective. Show them that you care and that you are there to support them.
Recognize that because of all the afore mentioned factors, these students are balancing a lot outside of school.
Create an Inclusive Environment
Finally, creating a safe and inclusive environment on campus is critical to supporting students who are veterans or actively serving, as well as their spouses and family members. This means challenging negative stereotypes and behaviors, promoting respect and understanding, and celebrating diversity and inclusion.
The term “veteran” is often used as a catchall, but a slight change in language to “military-connnected” is more inclusive.
Educating college faculty and staff about the unique needs of student veterans and military service members is essential in creating a more inclusive and supportive campus culture. Together we can help student veterans and military service members thrive on campus and beyond.
Related: Determining What Support Student Veterans Need and How to Offer It.