For Military & Veteran Students

Pathway for Military-Connected Learners

An Overview

Military Members, Veterans and their families pursue post secondary education at Colleges, Polytechnics, Universities across the country. Academic success can be out of interest or to facilitate career advancement while in or following service. Understanding the context and processes of post secondary education can help facilitate a successful transition into PSE and academic outcomes.

Target Audience:

Students who are Military Members, Veterans and their families

Aim:

To provide general information to guide exploration and pursuit of post secondary opportunities.

To assist students to:

Find the best fit
Orient to post secondary education
Get connected
Access resources
Engage with Mentors and Employers

Find the best fit

For some people, identifying a career path has been an easy process because they have known what they want to do for years, but for others this can be a challenging prospect. Please click here for more resources.

Orient to Post Secondary Education

One of the best ways to feel comfortable with your new school is to attend orientation.

Get connected

Access resources

Engage with mentors and employers

Scholarships

Scholarships and Bursaries available to serving and former Canadian Armed Forces members and their families

The George and Helen Vari Foundation Education Bursary Program - Helping serving members achieve their academic goals.

Postsecondary institutions (military, veteran and family connected)

Transition to post secondary education

Resources

Online learning libraries

Psych/Armor (U.S. resources):

References

Ackerman, R., DiRamio, D., & Mitchell, R. L. (2009). Transitions: Combat Veterans as college students. New Directions for Student Services, 2009(126), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.311
Burnett, S. E., & Segoria, J. (2009). Collaboration for Military Transition Students from Combat to College: It takes a community. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 22(1), 53-58.
Cook, B. J., & Kim, Y. (2009). From soldier to student: Easing the transition of service members on campus. American Council on Education.
DiRamio, D., & Spires, M. (2009). Partnering to assist disabled veterans in transition. New Directions for Student Services, 2009(126), 81–88. https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.319
DiRamio, D., Ackerman, R., & Mitchell, R. L. (2008). From combat to campus: Voices of student-veterans. NASPA Journal, 45(1), 73–102. https://doi.org/10.2202/0027-6014.1908
Gregg, B. T., Howell, D. M., & Shordike, A. (2016). Experiences of veterans transitioning to postsecondary education. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 70(6), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2016.021030
Griffin, K. A., & Gilbert, C. K. (2015). Better Transitions for troops: An application of Schlossberg’s transition framework to analyses of barriers and institutional support structures for student veterans. The Journal of Higher Education, 86(1), 71–97. https://doi.org/10.1353/jhe.2015.0004
Haines, D. (2013). “More aware of everything”: Exploring the returnee experience in American higher education. Journal of Studies in International Education, 17(1), 19–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315311433207
Hitt, S., Sternberg, M., MacDermid Wadsworth, S., Vaughan, J., Carlson, R., Dansie, E., & Mohrbacher, M. (2015). The higher education landscape for US student service members and veterans in Indiana. Higher Education, 70(3), 535–550. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-014-9854-6
Ray, S. L., & Heaslip, K. (2011). Canadian military transitioning to civilian life: A discussion paper. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 18(3), 198-204. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2010.01652.x

Military to civilian transition

Resources

Online learning libraries

Psych/Armor (U.S. resources):

References

Anderson, M. L., Goodman, J., & Schlossberg, N. K. (2012). Factors that Influence Transitions. In Counseling adults in transition: Linking Schlossberg's theory with practice in a diverse world (pp. 61–93). Springer Publishing Company.
Blackburn, D. (2017). Out of uniform: Psychosocial issues experienced and coping mechanisms used by veterans during the military–civilian transition. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 3(1), 62–69. https://doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh.4160
Cathcart, D. G. (2017). Navigating towards a new identity: Military to civilian transition. http://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/Vol18/no1/page60-eng.asp
Cathcart, D. G. (2018). Mandatory career change: Transition experiences of Canadian Armed Forces veterans (Doctoral dissertation, Queen's University (Canada)). https://www.proquest.com/openview/21a874ee6aaa2e15452d875e3bb7d8e3/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750
Ray, S. L., & Heaslip, K. (2011). Canadian military transitioning to civilian life: A discussion paper. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 18(3), 198-204. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2010.01652.x
Thompson, J. M., MacLean, M. B., Van Til, L., Sudom, K., Sweet, J., Poirier, A., & Pedlar, D. (2011). Survey on transition to civilian life: Report on regular force veterans. Veterans Affairs Canada.
Westwood, M. J., Black, T. G., & McLean, H. B. (2002). A re-entry program for peacekeeping soldiers: Promoting personal and career transition. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 36(3), 221-232.

Prior learning assessments

Resources

Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment
- - - Provincial / Territorial RPL Links
CAF ACE
MTEP and National Resource Directory Registration
University of Manitoba

References

Finances

Resources

Online learning libraries

Psych/Armor (U.S. resources):

Food Insecurity: Bringing Solutions to the Table

References

Student Academic Success Resources

Resources

Online learning library

References

Student Academic Accommodation

Resources

Online learning library

References

Bonar, Ted C., and Paula L. Domenici. "Counseling and connecting with the military undergraduate: The intersection of military service and university life." Journal of College Student Psychotherapy 25.3 (2011): 204-219.
Burnett, S. E., & Segoria, J. (2009). Collaboration for military transition students from combat to college: It takes a community. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 22(1), 53-58.
Cathcart, D. G. (2019). Veteran-friendly colleges and universities: A primer for Canada. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 5(1), 127–130. https://doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh.2018-002
Childers, C., & Hux, K. (2016). Invisible Injuries: The Experiences of College Students with Histories of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 29(4), 389-405.
Church, T. E. (2009). Returning Veterans on Campus with War Related Injuries and the Long Road Back Home. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 22(1), 43–52.
Cunningham, J., & Utah, U. of. (2012). Veterans’ Post-Secondary Education: Keeping the Promise to Those Who Serve. Hinckley Journal of Politics; Vol 13 (2012). https://repository.globethics.net/handle/20.500.12424/2338419
Creswell. J. W.l and Poth. C., “Qualitative inquiry and research method: Choosing among five approaches,” 2007.
Dodge R, Daly AP, Huyton J, Sanders LD. The challenge of defining wellbeing. Int J Wellbeing.

2012;2(3):222-235.

Dudley-Miller, V., & Radel, J. (2020). Experiences and Challenges of Students with a Military

Background at an Academic Medical Center. Journal of Veterans Studies, 6(1), 112–121. https://doi.org/10.21061/jvs.v6i1.11

Easterling RA. Building a better theory of well-being. Los Angeles CA: Paper prepared for the

conference “Paradoxes of Happiness in Economics” University of Milano- Bicocca, March 21-23, 2003. http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~easterl/papers/BetterTheory.pdf

Glover-Graf, N. M., Miller, E., & Freeman, S. (2010). Accommodating veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in the academic setting. Rehabilitation Education, 24(1–2), 43-56.
Howe, W. T., & Shpeer, M. (2019.). From Military Member to Student: An Examination of the Communicative Challenges of Veterans to Perform Communication Accommodation in the University. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 48(3), 203–220. https://doi-org.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/10.1080/17475759.2019.1592770
Kinney, A. R., & Eakman, A. M. (2017). Measuring self-advocacy skills among student veterans with disabilities: Implications for success in postsecondary education. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 30(4), 343-358.
Klaw, E., Young, B., Li, K., & O’Rourke, P. (2021). Best practices in serving college student Veterans: A scoping review. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 7(1), 76–86.https://doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh-2020-0024
Kranke, D. A., Weiss, E. L., & Brown, J. C. (2017). Student veterans with invisible disabilities: Accommodation-seeking in higher education. Journal of Veterans Studies, 2(2), 45-57.
Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC). N.d. Accessed January, 2022. Academic accomodations and systemic barrriers. https://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/learning-mind-inquiry-report-systemic-barriers-academic-accommodation-post-secondary-students-mental/academic-accommodations-and-systemic-barriers
Sandelowski, M. (2010). What’s in a name? Qualitative description revisited. Research in Nursing & Health, 33(1), 77–84.
Shackelford, A. L. (2009). Documenting the needs of student veterans with disabilities: Intersection roadblocks, solutions, and legal realities. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 22(1), 36-42.
Shahid, M., & Turin, T. C. (2018). Conducting Comprehensive Environmental Scans in Health Research: A Process for Assessing the Subject Matter Landscape: The Basics of Environmental Scan. Journal of Biomedical Analytics,1(2), 71–80. https://doi.org/10.30577/jba.2018.v1n2.13
Thompson, J. M., MacLean, M. B., Roach, M. B., Banman, M., Mabior, J., & Pedlar, D. (2016). Charlottetown PE: Research Directorate, Veterans Affairs Canada. A Well-Being Construct for Veterans’ Policy, Programming and Research (p. 3). Research Directorate Technical Report.
Veterans Affairs Canada, Strategic Policy Unit, (2017a, August). Monitoring the Well-being of Veterans: A Veteran Well-being Surveillance Framework. Charlottetown (PE). Retrieved from https//www.publications. gc.ca/pub?id=9.849051&sl=0
Vazquez, M. L. (2016). An Examination of Military Veteran Students’ Perceptions of Support Services in Higher Education [ProQuest LLC]. In ProQuest LLC.
Willis, D. G., Sullivan-Bolyai, S., Knafl, K., & Cohen, M. Z. (2016). Distinguishing features and similarities between descriptive phenomenological and qualitative description research. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 38(9), 1185–1204.

Well-being

Resources

Online learning library

References

Dodge, R., Daly, A., Huyton, J., & Sanders, L. (2012). The challenge of defining well-being. International Journal of Well-being, 2(3), 222–235. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v2i3.4
Easterling RA. Building a better theory of well-being. Los Angeles CA: Paper prepared for the conference “Paradoxes of Happiness in Economics” University of Milano- Bicocca, March 21-23, 2003. http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~easterl/papers/BetterTheory.pdf
Gregg, B. T., Kitzman, P. H., & Shordike, A. (2016). Well-being and coping of student veterans readjusting into Academia: A pilot survey. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 32(1), 86–107. https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212x.2015.1082081
Thompson, J. M., MacLean, M. B., Roach, M. B., Banman, M., Mabior, J., & Pedlar, D. (2016). Charlottetown PE: Research Directorate, Veterans Affairs Canada. A Well-Being Construct for Veterans’ Policy, Programming and Research (p. 3). Research Directorate Technical Report.
Veterans Affairs Canada, Strategic Policy Unit, (2017a, August). Monitoring the Well-being of Veterans: A Veteran Well-being Surveillance Framework. Charlottetown (PE). Retrieved from https//www.publications. gc.ca/pub?id=9.849051&sl=0

Coping

Resources

Online learning library

References

Ackerman, R., DiRamio, D., & Mitchell, R. L. (2009). Transitions: Combat Veterans as college students. New Directions for Student Services, 2009(126), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.311
Anderson, M. L., Goodman, J., & Schlossberg, N. K. (2012). Factors that Influence Transitions. In Counseling adults in transition: Linking Schlossberg's theory with practice in a diverse world (pp.

61–93). Springer Publishing Company.

Besemann, M., Hebert, J., Thompson, J. M., Cooper, R. A., Gupta, G., Brémault-Phillips, S., & Dentry, S. J. (2018). Reflections on recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration of injured service members and veterans from a bio-psychosocial-spiritual perspective. Can J Surg, 61, 219–231. https://doi.org/10.1503/cjs.015318
Blackburn, D. (2017). Out of uniform: Psychosocial issues experienced and coping mechanisms used by veterans during the military–civilian transition. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 3(1), 62–69. https://doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh.4160
Bradshaw, C., Atkinson, S., & Doody, O. (2017). Employing a qualitative description approach in health care research. Global Qualitative Nursing Research, 4, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/2333393617742282
Bonar, T. C., & Domenici, P. L. (2011). Counseling and connecting with the military undergraduate: The intersection of military service and university life. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 25(3), 204–219. https://doi.org/10.1080/87568225.2011.581925
Burnett, S. E., & Segoria, J. (2009). Collaboration for Military Transition Students from Combat to College: It takes a community. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 22(1), 53-58.
Cathcart, D. G. (2019). Veteran-friendly colleges and universities: A primer for Canada. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 5(1), 127–130. https://doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh.2018-0021
Cook, B. J., & Kim, Y. (2009). From soldier to student: Easing the transition of service members on campus. American Council on Education.
Crabtree, B., Miller, W. (1999). A template approach to text analysis: Developing and using codebooks. In Crabtree, B., Miller, W. (Eds.), Doing qualitative research (pp. 163–177). SAGE.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. SAGE.
DiRamio, D., & Jarvis, K. (2011). Institutional Response to an Emerging Population of Veterans. ASHE Higher Education Report, 37(3), 95–112.
DiRamio, D., & Spires, M. (2009). Partnering to assist disabled veterans in transition. New Directions for Student Services, 2009(126), 81–88. https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.319
DiRamio, D., Ackerman, R., & Mitchell, R. L. (2008). From combat to campus: Voices of student-veterans. NASPA Journal, 45(1), 73–102. https://doi.org/10.2202/0027-6014.1908
Dodge, R., Daly, A., Huyton, J., & Sanders, L. (2012). The challenge of defining well-being. International Journal of Well-being, 2(3), 222–235. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v2i3.4
Gregg, B. T., Howell, D. M., & Shordike, A. (2016). Experiences of veterans transitioning to postsecondary education. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 70(6), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2016.021030
Gregg, B. T., Kitzman, P. H., & Shordike, A. (2016). Well-being and coping of student veterans readjusting into Academia: A pilot survey. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 32(1), 86–107. https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212x.2015.1082081
Griffin, K. A., & Gilbert, C. K. (2015). Better Transitions for troops: An application of Schlossberg’s transition framework to analyses of barriers and institutional support structures for student veterans. The Journal of Higher Education, 86(1), 71–97. https://doi.org/10.1353/jhe.2015.0004
Haines, D. (2013). “More aware of everything”: Exploring the returnee experience in American higher education. Journal of Studies in International Education, 17(1), 19–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315311433207
Hitt, S., Sternberg, M., MacDermid Wadsworth, S., Vaughan, J., Carlson, R., Dansie, E., & Mohrbacher, M. (2015). The higher education landscape for US student service members and veterans in Indiana. Higher Education, 70(3), 535–550. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-014-9854-6
Howe, W. T., & Shpeer, M. (2019). From military member to student: An examination of the communicative challenges of veterans to perform communication accommodation in the University. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 48(3), 203–220. https://doi.org/10.1080/17475759.2019.1592770
Kim, Y. M., & Cole, J. S. (2013). Student veterans/service members' engagement in college and university life and education. American Council on Education.
Law, M., Cooper, B., Strong, S., Stewart, D., Rigby, P., & Letts, L. (1996). The person-environment-occupation model: A transactive approach to occupational performance. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63(1), 9–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/000841749606300103
Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer publishing company.
Marton, C. (2001). Environmental scan on women’s health information resources in Ontario, Canada. Information Research, 7(1), 7-1.
Metz, A., & Louison, L. (2018). The hexagon tool: Exploring context. National Implementation Research Network, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods. London: Sage.
Radford, A. W. (2009). Military service members and veterans in higher education: What the new Gi bill may mean for postsecondary institutions. American Council On Education.
Ray, S. L., & Heaslip, K. (2011). Canadian military transitioning to civilian life: A discussion paper. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 18(3), 198-204. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2010.01652.x
Sandelowski, M. (2010). What's in a name? Qualitative description revisited. Research in Nursing & Health, 33(1), 77-84. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.20362
Shahid, M., & Turin, T. C. (2018). Conducting comprehensive environmental scans in health research: A process for assessing the subject matter landscape. Journal of Biomedical Analytics, 1(2), 71–80. https://doi.org/10.30577/jba.2018.v1n2.13
Thompson, J., MacLean, M. B., Roach, M. B., Macintosh, S., Banman, M., Mabior, J., & Pedlar, D. (2016). A well-being construct for veterans' policy, programming and research. Veterans Affairs Canada.
Thompson, J. M., MacLean, M. B., Van Til, L., Sudom, K., Sweet, J., Poirier, A., & Pedlar, D. (2011). Survey on transition to civilian life: Report on regular force veterans. Veterans Affairs Canada.
University of Alberta. (2022). Military and veteran Friendly Campus. University of Alberta.

https://www.ualberta.ca/current-students/veteran-friendly-campus/index.html

Westwood, M. J., Black, T. G., & McLean, H. B. (2002). A re-entry program for peacekeeping soldiers: Promoting personal and career transition. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 36(3), 221-232.
Willis, D. G., Sullivan-Bolyai, S., Knafl, K., & Cohen, M. Z. (2016). Distinguishing features and similarities between descriptive phenomenological and qualitative description research. Western Journal of
Nursing Research, 38(9), 1185-1204. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193945916645499