Research Brief: Accommodating Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in the Academic Setting

This study examined specific barriers to education in a sample of seven student veterans, which included veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and found some professional adjustment issues, social interactions, behavioral and emotional challenges, and life changes. In practice, student veterans expressed impairments in developing close relationships, concerns about feelings of isolation, and heightened anxiety when asked insensitive questions about their military service. In policy, educational policies regarding course transferability may need to be revisited so that veterans seeking to further their education can take steps to do so both during and after their military service without repeating coursework. Suggestions for future study include utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data collection to explore the challenges faced by student veterans