Exploring the Relationship between Military Service and Performance in Online Classes
Universities have witnessed the consistent growth of increased college-level distance education programs with 32 percent of all students having taken at least one online course (Allen & Seaman, 2013). Key to this continued growth, however, is understanding the factors that contribute to the greatest growth and success in these programs. Researchers have identified a growing sub-population of non-traditional students – military Veterans, where universities have specifically seen a dramatic growth in enrollment (Lighthall, 2012). This study examined the relationship between military service and academic performance in distance learning courses offered entirely online. We conducted an Ordinary Least-Squares (OLS) regression, using grade point average in online classes as the dependent variable and Veteran status as the explanatory variable, and found that Veteran status has a positive, statistically significant relationship with academic performance in the online classroom.
