2012 Veteran s Survey Summary Methodology The 2012 Veteran s Survey was administered via the web during January and February to the population of 466 students identified as veterans with email contacts. There were 104 total responses and 21 of the respondents did not identify as a veteran, resulting in a veteran response rate of 18%.This report contains highlights of survey results organized within the following categories: findings of interest; demographics; educational factors/objectives, transition/social life/ off-campus engagement; and, the need for a Veteran s Center and the services provided. Findings of Interest Eighty four percent of veteran respondents agreed that EWU should open a Veterans Center. Forty three percent of veteran respondents reporting having a disability and the need for disability services at the Veteran s Center was included in the comments. Female veterans reported significantly higher educational objectives (P<.05). Demographics Gender Age 28% Female (26)--- [overall female veteran population = 31%] 72% Male (65) [overall male veteran population = 69%] While only 10% of veteran respondents are traditional age students (18 24), 78% of respondents are under the age of 35. 12% are 36 45 10% are 46 55 Family Status Only 4% of veteran students reported being currently or formerly homeless 42% married/partnered with children 29% single, no children 20% married with no children 15% divorced 2% single parent (significantly female) Office of Institutional Research, Demography & Assessment, 2/22/2012 1
2012 Veteran s Survey Summary Class Status A majority (62%) of veteran students are upperclassmen (junior, senior or post baccalaureate). 12% Freshman- 5 of the 11 freshmen indicate that this is their first quarter 15% Sophomore 33% Junior 22% Senior 7% post baccalaureate 11% Graduate First Generation Status Fifty four percent of the veteran students responded being first generation. This percentage exceeds our freshman percentage of first generation (50%) and the overall population of first-generation undergraduates (26%). Race/Ethnicity In general, the race/ethnicity of veterans is close to that of the overall undergraduate population. Only 5.6% reported having English as a second language. There was a slightly higher percentage of minorities represented by veteran minorities (23.1%) than in the overall EWU undergraduate percentage (21.7%), excluding unknown and non-resident aliens. The 7.5% difference in Caucasian is most likely due to the higher percentage of unknowns in the overall undergraduate population. My Race/Ethnicity: Frequency Valid Percent Overall Undergraduate African American/Black* 6 6.6 3.9 Hispanic/Latino* 5 5.5 9.7 Asian American* 3 3.3 3.3 Native American/American Indian* 3 3.3 1.3 Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian* 1 1.1.3 Caucasian 64 70.3 64.2 Mixed Race* 3 3.3 3.2 Decline to state/unknown/non-resident 6 6.6 14.1 Total 91 100.0 100.0 Missing System 2 Total Minority * 93 Office of Institutional Research, Demography & Assessment, 2/22/2012 2
Military Service, Active Duty 2012 Veteran s Survey Summary Three quarters of our veteran respondents are no longer on active duty: 16% are active in the reserves 9% are currently in the National Guard Almost half of our veteran respondents (48%) left active duty in the past 3 years: 41% left in 2011 or 2010 32% left between 2006 and 2009 26% left between 2000 and 2005 Disability A high percentage of veteran respondents (43%) reported having a disability. This is reinforced by write-in suggestions that a Veteran s Center include services for students with disabilities. Disability type was not addressed in this survey. Residence/Origin 29% are originally for the Eastern Washington region Of the 71% who are not from this region 27% came here because of military service 44% came for reasons other than the military 56% agreed/strongly agreed that they intended to stay in the area after they graduate from EWU Educational Factors/Objectives Finances 36% report receiving Pell grants 93% report using G.I. benefits 4% report having used all of their GI benefits and paying for college in other ways Eighty-one percent agreed that the military educational benefits was one of the reasons they joined the armed forces Office of Institutional Research, Demography & Assessment, 2/22/2012 3
Educational Objectives 2012 Veteran s Survey Summary 82% agreed that they always intended to go to college 61% undergraduate degree objective 36% graduate degree objective 1% certificate only objective 1% personal enrichment objective There was a significant difference (p<.05) between male and female educational objectives: I always intended to go to college or university o Male disagree: 24% o Female disagree: 4% I always intended to pursue a graduate degree o Male disagree: 47% o Female disagree: 19% While the difference was not significant (p=.06), the percentages of male and female current educational objective were noticeably different: Objective Male Female Graduate degree 29% 54% Undergraduate degree 67% 46% GPA/Need for Remedial Courses 43% report having a 3.6-4.0 GPA range in college while only 18% reported this GPA in high school 83% reported not being placed in remedial Math or English when they first arrived at EWU Educational Support Factors 46% would like to have greater instructional support 43% would benefit from greater personal counseling 59% would benefit from greater career counseling Utilization of Services 10% use EWU childcare (9 students) 38% would be interested in dedicated veteran housing (33 students) Office of Institutional Research, Demography & Assessment, 2/22/2012 4
2012 Veteran s Survey Summary Transition, Social Life/Adjustment and Off-campus Engagement Transition 37% agreed/strongly agreed that transition to student and academic life was easy 18% disagreed/strongly disagreed that this transition was easy 77% agreed that staff were helpful with their transition 75% agreed that faculty were helpful in their transition Social Life/Adjustment 66% would share their experiences as a veteran student 56% did not have regular contact with other student veterans on campus 48% agreed that they have some difficulty relating to students who are not veterans 47% hold a leadership position in a club or organization off-campus 34% are involved in community organizations off-campus 17% are involved in clubs or organizations on-campus Off-campus engagement: 30% Church 27% VFW/veteran organization 50% Volunteer 43% work 10 20 hrs per week 3% work 20 30 hrs per week 10% work 30 40 hrs per week 10% work more than 40 hrs per week Easy to understand/negotiate red tape at EWU (agreement) 68% Veterans Benefits 77% Admissions 68% Financial Aid 77% Registration 77% connecting with academic department or major advisor While approximately ¾ of students agreed that the red tape was easy to understand or negotiate, their comments expressed a desire for assistance in many of these areas. While disability services were not listed above, a need was expressed in the comments. Office of Institutional Research, Demography & Assessment, 2/22/2012 5
Need for a Veterans Center 2012 Veteran s Survey Summary 84% of respondents think that EWU should open a Veterans center. Percent of veteran students who answered yes to services that a Veterans Center should offer: 95% benefits/financial aid advising 89% career counseling 86% academic advising 81% veterans club or organization 80% study (quite) room 78% tutoring 74% assistance with registration 51% conference room Other suggested services include: disability assistance (43% of respondents reported having a disability); help with transfer transition; help with transition to college and social environment; and, a downtown Spokane location of Veterans Center. Office of Institutional Research, Demography & Assessment, 2/22/2012 6