Project prioritization is often an arduous task for any organization. This is particularly evident in large, complex organizations with matrixed management structures, such as the VA Cooperative Studies Program (CSP). CSP is responsible for the planning and conduct of large multicenter clinical trials and epidemiological studies in the Department…

Qualitative single unit case study was used to address three overarching questions that guided the study. The questions were: (1) What are the school certifying official compliance decision behaviors?, (2) How do the compliance decisions of the school certifying official affect student veterans?, (3) What are the policies and procedures in…

It has been five years since Mike DeWine was first sworn in to serve as Ohio's 70th governor, joined by Jon Husted as lieutenant governor. From the very beginning, Governor DeWine requested that his Cabinet listen carefully to the people of the state and then proceed to act with a sense of urgency to strengthen and improve the great state of Ohio.…

The story of Black veterans and their experience in the Vietnam War is one of little investigation especially with regard to those who are from the state of Alabama. This study particularly focuses on the experiences of African American Vietnam War veterans from the state of Alabama. The observations are based on the educational, occupational, and…

Military veterans are an immediately emerging populace of non-traditional students in the United States. In August 2009 the new Post-9/11 G.I. Bill became effective and has made it accessible for veterans to subsidize their higher education costs upon departing from the military. Customary four-year universities and colleges are appropriately…

This case study highlights the needs of second-year veteran students at a 3-year professional focus, commuter institution of higher education. Through an intrinsic case study that uses interviews, blog posts, and focus groups to collect evidence, the narratives of four veteran students highlight their experiences, challenges, and need for a…

After examining the extant literature on career-development in Veterans, the author will outline a new "Trauma-Informed" Existential Career Development (TI-ECD) group specifically designed to meet the unique needs of Veterans-in-transition out of the military. The author will explicate how the group aligns with the principles and praxes…

This phenomenological qualitative study employed Photovoice to investigate the experiences of college student service members and veterans (SSM/V) in relation to the transition from the military to higher education. Twelve participants took three photographs per day for seven days that reflected their everyday experiences as SSM/V. Individual…

Several federal agencies, including the Small Business Administration (SBA), provide training and other assistance to veterans seeking civilian employment. In recent years, the unemployment rate among veterans as a whole has generally been similar to or lower than the unemployment rate for nonveterans 18 years and older. However, veterans who have…

This review explores the expanding role of federal aid policy considered from a contemporary and social justice perspective. It highlights recent trends in aid policy as well as difficulties that arise from the current system. Next, the review takes up an analysis of current aid policy that carefully considers equity and efficiency as primary…

Military veterans (n = 153) completed an on-line survey and were broken down into combat (n = 92) versus non-combat (n = 61) veterans. The combat veterans had higher life satisfaction, perceived occupational alternatives, and education level versus the non-combat veterans. Looking at correlates to life satisfaction, for both samples number of…

Hope is a defining characteristic of well-being, and research points to the positive contribution of hope to life adjustment (Snyder, Lehman, Kluck, & Monssan, 2006). Harris developed an initial version of an individual-differences measure of hope, the Trait Hope Scale (THS). Snyder, Harris, and colleagues (1991) further developed the THS by…

The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the lived experiences of female United States Army veterans who have enrolled in an academic undergraduate program post-discharge. As higher education continues to be an important transition point for female veterans, understanding the lived experiences of this population provides higher education…

This study aimed to explore the factors that motivate and empower military spouses to persist in pursuing degrees in higher education. The following research question guided this study. What do military spouses perceive as the factors that motivate and empower them to persist in earning college degrees? Fifteen military spouses participated in…

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are the foundation for discovery and innovation. STEM skills are increasingly important for all Americans to succeed in the workplace and in their everyday lives. To develop these skills, the Nation must engage in a collaborative effort to ensure that all Americans have access to…