Military Connected Student Perspectives of a Large Public University's Veteran Career Development Program

Abstract: This empirical study investigated military connected student perspectives at a large public university
concerning any benefits gained by their involvement with the university’s career center’s inceptive veteran specific career development program referred to by the pseudonym, Student Veteran Career Development Transitional Program (SVCDTP). Participants program were all former or current military service members enrolled as college students. Program enrollment ranged from five to twenty student veterans. The central research question was, “What are the participating military connected student perspectives as to if and how the program sessions and material may help them find civilian employment in their future career goals?” Methods such as participant observation, direct observation, program participant questionnaires, and a reflective report from the program coordinator were used to gather data, which was inductively analyzed. Resultant findings looked at perspectives of participating stakeholders, which supported this study’s assertion that the SVCDTP was positive in enhancing university military connected students’ future employability.