Transitional Experiences of Military Service Members/Veterans Who Become Online Students
Open Access
- Author:
- Oakar, Margaret Mary
- Graduate Program:
- Educational Theory and Policy
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- September 21, 2018
- Committee Members:
- Dana Mitra, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Dana Mitra, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Mindy L Kornhaber, Committee Member
Adnan A Qayyum, Committee Member
Laurence Bradley Boggess, Outside Member - Keywords:
- military
veteran
online
transition
adult students
student service members/veterans
military students
veteran students
online students
post-9/11 - Abstract:
- The purpose of this study is to investigate the transitional experience of student service members/veterans (SSM/Vs) who become students online as they pursue a post-secondary undergraduate education. Up until now, there has been little to no research on the transitional experience of SSM/Vs who choose to study in the online environment. In this qualitative, multiple-case study, data were collected from undergraduate SSM/Vs studying online through The Pennsylvania State University—World Campus (or Penn State World Campus) and faculty/staff who support them. With Schlossberg’s transition theory as the conceptual framework, evidence suggests that several of the themes across cases are unique to SSM/Vs who study online. First, the circumstances around the SSM/V moving out of their military service sheds light on an important phase of their lives that often leads them to consider enrolling online. Secondly, SSM/Vs are continuing to move in by trying to understand and negotiate their new role as an online college student and the cultural norms of online higher education. SSM/Vs wrestle with the differences between the military culture with which they were familiar and that of online higher education. While the cultural differences between the military and online higher education present confusion and challenges for the SSM/V, it is ultimately their personal and psychological characteristics and skills cultivated from experiences in the military that help them successfully navigate and move through the transition. Recommendations for colleges and universities are provided as well as topics for future research related to SSM/Vs who study online.