Browse By News Topic

Military Benefits/GI Bill/ROTC

VA Publishes State Maximum Tuition and Fee Numbers for 2010-11 NAICU Washington Update September 2, 2010 On August 30, the Department of Veterans Affairs published the state-by-state maximum tuition and fee levels to be used for the calculation of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for the 2010-11 academic year. With a few exceptions, the maximum payment per credit hour increased modestly.

For-Profit Colleges Draw Most Veterans Funded by New GI Bill Bloomberg/BusinessWeek August 9, 2010 Federal spending to educate returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan is disproportionately helping the bottom line of for-profit colleges, according to government enrollment data.  The dominance of for-profit colleges such as Apollo Group Inc.'s University of Phoenix and American Public Education Inc.'s American Military University among veterans and active- duty military is facing congressional scrutiny. A Senate committee said last week it plans to hold hearings on the quality and funding of the schools' military education programs by year's end.

GI Bill Updates NAICU Washington Update August 6, 2010 A bill approved August 5 by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee would establish a national $20,000 cap on annual tuition and fee payments to veterans attending non-public institutions, replacing the current state-by-state tuition and fee caps set by the Department of Veterans Affairs.  The VA also has announced that the 2010-11 Yellow Ribbon program will have approximately the same number of participating institutions as last year, and has posted the list of participants on the VA website.

Bill to Expand Veterans' Education Benefits Begins Moving Through Congress Chronicle of Higher Education August 5, 2010 A major expansion of the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits was approved in the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee on Thursday, about one year after the latest changes to veterans' educational aid took effect.  The bill would increase the number of people who could receive benefits and expand the list of programs or training for which veterans could use the aid. It would also change the way housing and textbook allowances are calculated and provide in-state tuition and fees at public colleges, or up to $20,000, adjusted annually and based on the national average cost.

GI Bill would be simplified under House, Senate proposals Stars and Stripes August 5, 2010 Sweeping changes to GI Bill benefits could give troops more money for private college tuition, easier access to on-the-job training and simpler rules for how most of the program is administered.  But that's only if lawmakers find time to address flaws in the education benefits in their already cramped remaining legislative session.  Two years ago, Congress passed a major overhaul of the GI Bill, a tremendous financial upgrade for most veterans, but the benefits were so complex they frustrated many veterans.

VA issues new Yellow Ribbon college aid list Army Times August 4, 2010 More than 1,100 private and public schools have signed agreements with the Veterans Affairs Department to reduce tuition for student veterans in the coming school year as part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill's "Yellow Ribbon" program, VA announced Wednesday.  Under this program, VA matches dollar-for-dollar any reduction in fees charged to GI Bill students if tuition and fees exceed the reimbursement rate in the state where the school is located.  VA has posted a list of participating institutions.

Retooling the GI Bill Inside Higher Ed July 22, 2010 Gathered at a hearing here Wednesday, U.S. senators grappled with legislation that would attempt to simplify the often dizzying formula for calculating veterans benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. But proposed legislation to simplify the process could wind up reducing benefits for some of those attending private colleges, higher education leaders argue.  The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities also urged lawmakers to tread carefully in developing a new benefits formula.

GI Bill stipend make-up checks coming in Aug. Army Times July 21, 2010 Underpayments of living stipends to 153,000 veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill will be corrected in August when the Veterans Affairs Department issues one-time catch-up checks to anyone who has received the stipend since Jan. 1. The checks represent a fix to a problem caused when VA did not update living stipends in January after military housing allowances, on which the stipends are based, increased.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Updates NAICU Washington Update July 9, 2010 The Department of Veterans Affairs has now finalized Yellow Ribbon agreements for 2010-11, with over 1,100 institutions participating in the program.  Due to the popularity of the program the VA has extended the agreement deadline until July 23.  Also, the VA also has issued detailed information on using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for study-abroad programs.

Coming soon to a college near you: Vets centers Stars & Stripes Blog July 2, 2010 A $6 million pilot program funding veterans centers on college campuses could be the first step in correcting dismal graduation rates among former servicemembers.  This week, the Department of Education announced a pilot program to fund 19 campus veterans centers, offering assistance with GI Bill payments, VA health services, and combat-to-college transitions. The pilot, approved by Congress last year, will fund the offices for at least three years.

Next