1. Presented by Zora AuBuchon
Veterans’ Benefits
Presented by Zora AuBuchon
MDHE General Counsel &
Legislative Liaison

2. Agenda Background Missouri Returning Heroes’ Education Act
Veterans’ Survivors Scholarship
Vietnam Veterans
Bright Flight changes

3. Background
According to the VA, there are over 530,000 veterans in Missouri
During 2007, almost 12,000 Missouri veterans used the GI Bill to continue their education
Some perceive that GI Bill benefits under the current program are inadequate to cover true costs of going back to school – these people have made their voices heard at the Capitol

4. Background

5. Why?

6. Why?

7. Missouri Returning Heroes Education Act

8. Missouri Returning Heroes’ Education Act
Two separate bills passed in 2007 contain provisions that created this program
It had been discussed during several previous legislative sessions
Individual veterans and their families, as well as veterans’ advocacy groups, pushed for the creation of this program
Testimony to legislators described the unexpected hardship veterans encountered when they tried to start school
Legislators also expressed an interest in encouraging Missourians to enter military service

9. The bill requires some schools to charge certain veterans no more than
In a nutshell . . .
The bill requires some schools to
charge certain veterans
no more than
$50 tuition per credit hour.

10. What schools are covered?
The bill requires “public institutions of higher education” to provide the discounted tuition
This includes all public 2- and 4-year institutions
This does not include area vocational technical schools

11. When do schools have to begin offering the discounted tuition?
Difficult to determine because the of the effective date of the law creating the program: August 28
MDHE notified institutions that they should determine, based on the circumstances on their campus, whether the law required them to begin implementation for fall 2008
All public institutions must offer the discounted tuition no later than spring semester 2009

12. What does “served in armed combat” mean?
A veteran has “served in armed combat” if he or she has served in a combat zone as designated by the U.S. Department of Defense
A veteran’s “DD-214” form may indicate whether a veteran has served in armed combat (see Appendix A in MDHE packet)
Indicated by a veteran serving in a combat zone (see Appendix B in MDHE packet)
Indicated by a veteran receiving a combat medal (see Appendix B in MDHE packet)

13. What about members of the Guard or Reserves?
These veterans are included, so long as they :
Served in armed combat;
In a full‐time capacity;
Under a call to active service authorized by the President of the United States or the Secretary of Defense;
For a period of more than thirty consecutive days.

14. Missourians only
Veteran must have been a Missouri resident at the time he or she entered the service
This information is included in the DD-214
They do not have to re-establish Missouri residency

15. Dishonorable discharge?
A veteran whose DD 214 indicates any type of discharge other than
bad conduct,
less than honorable,
undesirable, or
dishonorable
is considered to have been discharged under honorable conditions. Fields 24 and 28 on the DD 214 generally contain this information.

16. When is the cumulative GPA determined?
Each institution should calculate veterans’ cumulative GPAs on the same timetable it uses to calculate grant and scholarship recipients’ cumulative GPAs.

17. Does the veteran have to have a 2.5 the first semester?
No. There should be no grade point requirement for a veteran the first time they receive the tuition reduction even if they have previously attended an institution of higher education.
However, the veteran must achieve a 2.5 GPA at the end of the first and all subsequent periods when the institution checks satisfactory progress in order to continue to receive the reduction.

18. “Financial assistance”
Loans are not considered financial assistance
Institutional and state aid is considered financial assistance
Veterans benefits are tricky
If they are designated solely for the payment of tuition, fees, or other education-related expenses, they ARE considered financial assistance
The current version of the GI Bill is not designated solely for any of the above purposes, so it’s NOT considered financial assistance
Veteran is not required to apply for other assistance

19. What if we don’t charge tuition?
A few institutions don’t charge “tuition” – particularly to in- state or in-district students
The statute only specifically includes tuition
It is likely that the legislators who supported the bills that established the Act intended it to include “fees” where such fees are charged in lieu of tuition
In instances where fees are charged by the credit hour and no charge specifically designated as “tuition” is charged, the MDHE recommends that the institution apply the limitation to the fee

20. Clock Hour Programs
The statute does not specifically exempt programs from this requirement based on the progress measurement system used by the school
The limit must apply to these programs as well
For programs measured in clock hours rather than credit hours, the institution should use the conversion formula of 15 classroom hours equals 1 credit hour and apply the tuition limit in an equivalent fashion.

21. Questions?
Questions about a student’s eligibility should be directed to the Missouri Veteran’s Commission
While the Veterans’ Commission cannot make eligibility determinations, they can provide information about available documentation and interpretation of the information relating to a veteran’s military service
Other questions should be directed to Zora AuBuchon at the MDHE

22. Vietnam Veterans’ Survivors Scholarship

23. War Veterans’ Survivors Grant
Created by a law that passed in 2007
Allows the MDHE to award up to 25 scholarships per year
Recipients will be the spouses or children of veterans killed or significantly wounded in combat
Can be used at a public institutions
Can be used in a program leading to a certificate or associate or bachelors degree – first bachelors degree only

24. Bright Flight

25. Changes to Bright Flight Program
Currently, students who enter the military can only defer for 27 months
We are seeking a legislative change to extend that period

26. War Veterans’ Survivors Grant
Scholarship will include:
An amount for tuition (not to exceed the tuition at University of Missouri-Columbia for in-state undergraduate students)
The actual cost of the student’s books -- up to $500 a semester
An allowance of up to $2,000 per semester for room and board

27. Tomorrow is Veterans’ Day!

28. Questions?