Perceptions of Veterans Using Their Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits at Gateway Technical College

Plan BThis research replicates the study, “Perceptions of Veterans Using Their Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits at the University of Wisconsin – Stout,” conducted by Kovach in 2014. Veterans have struggled with personal wars that span years beyond their deployments. In addition to physical challenges, studies have identified numerous invisible barriers that prevent veterans from smoothly transitioning to civilian life. Compounding mental health issues including PTSD, depression, traumatic brain injury, drug and alcohol abuse, unemployment, and epidemic suicide rates ravage this honorable population. Use of Veteran education benefits has increased with the enactment of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. At postsecondary institutions, this unique demographic of students is wrought with low retention and graduation rates. Although many higher learning institutions have created, veteran support positions in an attempt to assist, veteran students are evasive and most do not utilize these needed accommodations. As this demographic typically comprises less than 1% of an institutions’ overall student population, they can go unnoticed. In this research study, nineteen student veterans that utilize Post 9/11 GI Bill veteran education benefits participated in qualitative interviews. A series of open-ended questions and candid conversations allowed for this diverse group of veterans to describe their perceptions of Gateway Technical College. As identified in this study, the majority of student veterans were unaware of the vast amount of support services, staff, and veteran events that are available at their college. Despite their immense struggles, 100% of all participants declared that Gateway Technical College is “Veteran Friendly.