Is your college professor veteran friendly?

SGT Matthew DePaul — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 21:26:36 -0500

Serving as a VA Work-Study, President of the Student Veterans Organization, and a member of the Veterans Steering Committee at my college, I assist our brothers and sisters in arms with a wide variety of issues. The greatest common factor among them are professors who are not so "veteran friendly". To define "veteran friendly", it is a professor that makes accommodations not exceptions, when a student veteran is facing his or her unique transitional challenges. It is also a professor that is wise enough to avoid controversial topics, that may excite anger or other unwanted emotions in a prior service member.

What have been your experiences with college professors? On average, do you feel that they understand to some degree what veterans are facing while transitioning back to civilian life? Lastly, what are some things you would like college professors to know and/or be trained on, to better interact with student veterans?

Response by SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA made Feb 20 at 2015 9:39 PM

SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 21:39:39 -0500

Mine were not...but then again I went to a British Business School, I was more of a "interest" than a student.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Feb 20 at 2015 9:56 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 21:56:20 -0500

Mine were no more or less accommodating based on my status.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2015 11:03 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 23:03:15 -0500

Many college professors don't care one way or another about students in general. Only about a handful of mine were decent. Many professors are going to be provocative especially in social sciences and other liberal arts courses. I don't know if you can tame the beasts to be honest with you. Many professors are what they are. You might be able to get a awareness orientation to professors and make it mandatory for them if the school gets federal money. You may never know what might set someone off. I have friends brother who was a infantryman in gulf war I getting his PHD. He was teaching a class and got a un-desired response by a recent vet.

It probably needs to be two way street. And maybe the VA needs to identify vets that have stress issues from OCO and council them by giving them expectation management and counseling on how to deal with those encounters in a rational manner. Maybe identify professors to avoid who maybe more likely to cause issues. But at the end of the day the stress management is something they will have to figure out how to control. It's not just professors in some cases students maybe more extreme and provocative. Take some young stereotypical hippie the that blurts out "all military people are baby killers and savages, or the young conservative type that says "why do these needy vets need my tax money for a handout, they should fend for themselves" How is the said veteran going to react to those two statements? It's a cold cruel world out there. Many people who act like they care when they really don't.

Response by PO2 Jonathan Scharff made Feb 20 at 2015 11:32 PM

PO2 Jonathan Scharff — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 23:32:21 -0500

I think we need MAJ Michael Scharff to comment here...lol

Response by SPC Jack Hunt, JR made Feb 21 at 2015 3:40 PM

SPC Jack Hunt, JR — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 15:40:58 -0500

For the most part my professors were very helpful and understanding in my case. I did however have great issue with fellow students that only care about themselves.

As a 40 plus year old student, I see younger students are happy to just get by and barely pass classes. I have issue with that being a perfectionist.

Enough of my rambling, I would suggest classes with only other Veterans if it were possible to schedule that. Just seems most veterans respect and understand that while
In class that is your mission to complete at the moment.

Response by PO3 Dan Tjarks made Feb 23 at 2015 9:22 AM

PO3 Dan Tjarks — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 09:22:23 -0500

I graduated from Upper Iowa University as an adult student. I received my bachelors of science in Emergency and Disaster Management in 2010 at the age of 40. College itself was a struggle for me. As a veteran and a straight white conservative Christian male it seemed to me I was challenged to some point in almost every class about my views. Not just by my professors, but by other students and faculty... Fortunately because of my degree choice many of my professors for my degree specific classes were retired or active law enforcement members or firefighters. I'm not a quiet man about my personal views...never have been never will be...the best thing I did was to remain objective. To always give them respect and listen to their views...I only asked the same in return. I found that most people were actually very veteran friendly even when they did not agree with politics or current military actions. The "You can support the troops and still not support the war" mentality.

Response by CPT Jim Gillcrist made Jun 22 at 2017 9:27 PM

CPT Jim Gillcrist — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 21:27:56 -0400

As an infantry veteran who now teaches in a university liberal arts department, I can very clearly assert that I am not "veteran friendly" according to your criteria. I treat veterans the same way I treat every other student and I do not cater to the sensibilities of any of my students. I give one disclaimer at the beginning of every semester and at the top of every syllabus: this is an adult course in which we will cover adult topics and discuss such topics like adults. If you feel you cannot handle this course, I recommend you disenroll immediately.