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by CAEL on Apr 22, 2025
From structured surveys to informal interaction, CAEL relies on feedback from its members and other stakeholders to guide its continuous improvement. Both forms of feedback engagement were featured at Military-Ready Ecosystems, an in-person gathering of CAEL's Military Community of Practice. During the gathering, which took place at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, CAEL presented findings from a needs assessment completed through a survey of members.
Delivered to community members in the first quarter of this year, the needs assessment explored motivations for joining the community of practice, collected data on the number of military-connected individuals group members serve and how they meet their needs, and identified strengths and challenges. It also highlighted priorities and goals and established annual benchmarking and trends.
The assessment captured responses from individuals in various roles at more than 40 higher education institutions and other organizations. Respondents included military program/veteran resource directors, advisors, faculty, veterans benefit specialists, CPL program directors and coordinators, transfer specialists, and other practitioners who regularly interact with military-connected individuals. They represented institutions from two-year colleges and four-year universities as well as state systems that included both, with some serving more than 25,000 military-connected individuals.
The needs assessment provided important information that CAEL will use as it continues to develop the Military Community of Practice. Fundamentally, it underscores the vital importance of the Community of Practice itself, especially its ability to align military-serving practitioners from throughout the workforce development ecosystem.
Below are some high-level findings collected from the assessment. CAEL plans on providing a similar assessment annually, with additional pop-up surveys delivered throughout the year.
Reasons for Joining CAEL's Military Community of Practice
Services Provided
Services most commonly reported by higher ed respondents:
- Dedicated military-connected webpage.
- Accommodations for military learners with disabilities.
- Career advising and job search assistance.
- Assistance in filling out GI Bill educational benefits paperwork.
Top service opportunities identified by higher ed respondents:
- Special services for spouses and dependents of military-connected learners.
- Counseling/workshops on reentry and transition for military-connected learners.
- Peer support for military-connected learners (e.g., mentorship, groups).
- Military-connected learner orientation.
Services most commonly reported by respondents from military-serving organizations:
- Dedicated military-connected webpage.
- Special services for spouses and dependents of military-connected individuals.
- Access/connections to other regional military support organizations.
Top service opportunities identified by respondents from military-serving organizations:
- Mental health services.
- Assistance in filling out GI Bill benefits paperwork.
- Accommodations for military-connected learners with disabilities.
Strengths and Challenges
Findings highlighted opportunities for collaboration. For example, a strength among higher ed members is military CPL, while a challenge reported by respondents from military-serving organizations is "translating military job experience and training into civilian 'job language.'"
The Military Community of Practice offers a series of in-person and virtual convenings along with continuous networking at the CAEL Member Hub, fostering an exchange of winning strategies and opportunities for members to connect with key partners throughout the workforce ecosystem. The next virtual meetings are planned for July, October, and December. CAEL’s annual conference, held this year in Memphis Nov. 11-14, will also host special events dedicated to the Community of Practice.
Join the Military Community of Practice here. Please contact Carolyn Swabek for more information.