For military and veteran students, one of the most significant barriers to higher education is the transition to civilian life and the shift in environment. That change can be jarring, at times feeling like culture shock.
Yet those of us who have worked extensively with these students know that they are some of the most adaptable and disciplined learners. When faced with unfamiliar or challenging environments, they consistently find ways to adjust and succeed.
While discipline and adaptability are strengths, veteran learners, like all students, benefit from intentional support that addresses the challenges they face and the resources they need. For student veterans, an additional dimension should be considered: where they are learning.
When we assess military and student veterans’ needs holistically, understanding the greater context they are in, we can begin to create spaces that work for them.
Community as a Foundation for Learning
One of the most integral parts of military life is the sense of community. Service members are trained to operate in collective settings, where teamwork, trust, and mutual reliance shape how work gets done.
Over time, this approach is so ingrained that it becomes a part of who they are. When service members transition to college, they carry with them a strong understanding of the importance of community. As a result, military students often seek out spaces where they can connect with others who share their experiences.
Fostering community through peer support, mentorship, and advocacy has had a positive impact on student veterans' success. As such, access to these opportunities should be seen as a necessity rather than just as a resource.
Yet when we revisit the question of where learning takes place, we face a critical reality: many student veterans are taking courses online.
Online Learning as the New Normal
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted higher education in 2020, campuses closed and learning shifted online. The effects of that shift continued long after campuses re-opened.
Even as in-person classes became widely available again, a majority of college students continued to take at least one class online. Between 2023 to 2024, nearly one in four undergraduate students were enrolled exclusively in online classes. At two-year institutions, that figure is closer to one in five.
It has become clear for some time that online learning is not just a temporary response but a new normal impacting all students. Among student veterans, the effect is even more pronounced. One estimate shows that 38% are enrolled exclusively in online courses.
While the online learning model offers convenience and flexibility, it also presents challenges. One of the most glaring is the difficulty in building connections behind a computer screen. For student veterans who place a high value on community, the absence of physical spaces can create a real barrier.
With such a substantial share of student veterans learning online, we need to rethink how we can address these challenges. The mode of learning should not require student veterans to compromise on support or opportunity.
Expanding Access Through Online SVA Chapter
Across ECPI University’s ground campuses, Student Veterans of America (SVA) chapters have provided unique spaces for military and military-affiliated students. These chapters allow students to connect beyond the classroom with peers who share similar experiences. Until recently, they were largely unavailable to the online campus, where nearly 1,100 military and veteran students are enrolled.
The launch of our online SVA chapter represents a renewed effort to support our military and military-affiliated students who have historically lacked consistent ways to connect. This chapter is not simply a direct translation of its campus-based counterparts. It is being intentionally built with military and online learners in mind.
To accommodate students’ full schedules, our meetings are held via Zoom, typically last 30 minutes, and take place once every two terms. Every meeting includes a professional development discussion led by a subject matter expert.
An upcoming topic we will explore is veterans’ employment and readiness. The goal is to ensure that each meeting provides something useful, whether that is a resource, a piece of information, or even an experience.
This effort has already resonated with students and staff alike. Bill Brown, ECPI University’s Director of Military Education, has noted that now is an ideal time for veteran engagement: “We have several campuses seeing a lot of success with their student veteran clubs and are even seeing new chapters being formed right now, so there is a lot of momentum.”
From a student perspective, the response has been equally encouraging. Kenneth Lowry, an ECPI graduate who has attended three online colleges, shared, “I’ve long hoped to find the same sense of camaraderie and connection in online learning that many of us know and knew while serving in uniform."
With this online SVA chapter still in its infancy, we can expect adjustments to be a natural part of the learning process. After all, serving a different student population requires a different approach.
Adapting to Serve the Most Adaptable
The new SVA online chapter is a meaningful step forward in progress in ECPI University’s efforts to support our military and veteran students. But it is only one step in a broader, ongoing commitment.
Military and veteran students have long demonstrated an ability to adapt to new environments and expectations. That adaptability, however, should not be mistaken for an absence of need. It should instead be an example of the kind of work we as educators must undertake. To effectively serve military and veteran students, we must be equally adaptable to their evolving needs and circumstances.
About the Author: CJ King
CJ King is a General Arts & Sciences faculty member at ECPI University and the faculty advisor for ECPI University’s Student Veterans of America online chapter. A U.S. Army veteran, he brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across military, educational, and organizational settings, with a focus on mentoring, workforce development, and strategic planning.