NAICU Washington Update

Revised Defense Department MOU Expected Soon

March 23, 2012

As the March 30 deadline approaches for implementation of new requirements for institutional participation in the Department of Defense's Tuition Assistance (TA) program, work continues on final revisions to the agreement.

NAICU has worked with the American Council on Education and other higher education associations to revise portions of the original Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that were inconsistent with the established academic practices of many institutions. Discussions with Defense Department officials have been productive, and the proposed revisions are now being reviewed within the department.

According to a statement released yesterday by department officials:

"The Department has worked with many stakeholders over the past several months to revise the MOU so as to maintain its principles while clarifying language seen as problematic. We are now formally coordinating the MOU and all colleges will have ample opportunity to review it prior to signing and the policy going into effect, probably by Summer 2012. Until then, DoD will maintain the status quo with TA. A more formal statement will be forthcoming."

The reference to the "status quo" means that schools will continue to be eligible for TA without a signed MOU.  A more detailed explanation was posted March 26 on the "latest news" section of the MOU website.

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