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

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.