Post 9/11 GI Bill: A Proposal for Enhanced Services

According to the Democratic Staff of the Joint Economic Committee, United States Congress (2017), "over 3.9 million soldiers have served in wartime, since September 11, 2001" ("Gulf War-era II Veterans," para. 1). The Post-9/11 Veterans Assistance Act of 2008 (GI Bill) "offers the 2 million Servicemembers who have served in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts generous support for educational expenses, and has prompted a significant upturn in the number of Veterans and military personnel enrolling in higher education" (McBain, Kim, Cook, & Snead, 2012, p. 5). It is unknown if educational programming and services are adequate to meet the needs of this eligible population. This study identifies the adequacy of accommodations for eligible students utilizing the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits in post-secondary institutions through ex post facto data. The intention of this study is to promote Veteran and service member success in post-secondary institutions. As more of these students continue to flood into the post-secondary learning environment, it is imperative to understand, recognize, and plan for accommodations that meet the needs of this student population.