Helping Veterans Succeed in College

Ever since it was signed into law by President Roosevelt in 1944, the G.I. bill has offered millions of American service members an opportunity to further their education, e.g., by enrolling at universities for advanced degrees. The more than one million members currently enlisted in the armed services constitute a sizeable and diverse talent pool whose interests can be stimulated and nurtured by a university education. The transition from the structured and often high-stress environment of active duty to a college campus teeming with young people making their way into adulthood can be disorienting, and the many years away from a school desk or lecture theater often make starting in a degree program challenging.

Warrior Scholars research team in action To help with this, Oliver Monti, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry in CBC, runs a science and math boot camp for recently separated veterans and service members who are about to retire from the armed forces. This program, supported by the Veterans Office at UArizona (VETS) and the highly select Warrior Scholar Project, is one of only 22 such programs nationwide, and seeks to empower enlisted veterans and service members to successfully transition into and pursue higher education. Every summer, a cohort of veterans spends two intense weeks on campus focused on an introduction to humanities and STEM classes. For the STEM week, the Scholars receive a crash course in math, before sitting daily in a fast-paced mock introductory physics class. By modeling different lecture styles and discussing methods for studying effectively and seeking help, the Scholars learn how to navigate the

The 2022 Warrior Scholars visiting LabMontiTM campus environment and take advantage of its support infrastructure. This intensive class experience is supplemented by extended homework and a mixture of laboratory tours and engaging big picture science talks. The Scholars are also enrolled in a week-long research project, which sees small teams embed“The Warrior Scholar Project week is ded in research labs to experience reamong the most rewarding teaching experiences every year” search and person-to-person mentoring firsthand, highlighting the strengths of an undergraduate education at UArizona in general and CBC in particular. “The Warrior Scholar Project week is among the most rewarding teaching experiences every year,” says Monti. “The Scholars are highly motivated and on fire, and I can’t think of a population of students more deserving of our support.” Veterans who attend the University of Arizona have the opportunity to apply to the Arizona Science, Engineering and Math Scholars Program for Veterans (ASEMS-V). This program, led by CBC Associate Professor Michael Marty, supports ASEMS-V students who are pursuing a STEM degree with continued mentoring and research opportunities toward a career in STEM. Both Marty and Monti are delighted to help veterans find a path to their second career, and proud to be leading these initiatives at UArizona.