Contextualizing Military Insight Within Higher Education: Mitigating Social Vulnerability & Maximizing Sustainability in the Time of COVID

Abstract

The COVID-19 global pandemic, social and political polarization, and economic downturn have caused
an untenable situation for many higher education institutions nationally. Concurrently, students, staff,
faculty, and administrators are also struggling with the significant adversity stemming. This precipitates
increases in emotional wellness challenges and decreases in productivity and motivation across
institutions of higher education. To address this pervasive need the author examines a three-phase
process, inclusive of 1) issue identification, 2) internal capacity building, and 3) external partnership
development that is employed by the United States Coast Guard 7th District. The process increases
emotional intelligence and personal hardiness across the organization, and concurrently mitigates social
vulnerability and maximizes the emotional health and wellbeing of their service men and women. This
yields a transferable model for higher education institutions, as they attempt to survive the increasing
challenge of sustainability in the time of COVID.