2. Agenda Point of Contact Types of benefits available Regulatory requirements Packaging

3. Who are our veteran beneficiaries?

4. Nontraditional students whose academic paths are shaped by military service Persist in their education despite numerous challenges Are largely enrolling in and graduating from public schools Pursue high-growth, high-demand fields Use benefits to achieve higher levels of education

5. Student Veteran Graduation Rate* *SVA Million Records Project Student Veteran Graduation Rate* *SVA Million Records Project

6. Who is our point of contact? Certifying official Director Veterans Affairs Advisor Other

7. The Post 9-11 GI Bill Montgomery GI Bill REAP VEAP DEA TA ‘Top-Up’ What Benefits Are Available?

8. Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) Up to 36 months of education benefits. Paid monthly to the student directly The monthly benefit paid is based on the type of training received, length of service, category, and if DOD put extra money in student’s MGIB Fund (called "kickers").

9. VEAP is available for those who entered active duty between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985 and elected to make contributions from military pay to participate in this program. Veterans Education Assistance Program (VEAP, Chapter 32) Reservist Education Assistance Program (REAP, Chapter 32) REAP is an education program providing up to 36 months of education benefits to members of the Selected Reserves, Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), and National Guard, who are called or ordered to active service in response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the President or Congress.

10. Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA, CH35) DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits.

11. Tuition Assistance Top-Up Must be active duty; if student is not, he/she will be required to re-enlist to get benefit The benefit equals the cost of a course minus the total tuition assistance paid Must be eligible for GI Bill benefits (Ch30 or Ch33) Benefit cannot exceed cost of course Used mostly by part-time students and distance learners

12. Paid Directly to School Transferable Public school tuition covered 100% Private tuition covered up to academic year National Maximum* Yellow Ribbon Matching Monthly Housing Allowance Stipends *with the exception of Private IHL in the following states: AZ, MI, NH, NY, PA, SC, and TX

13. Eligibility %Cumulative Active Duty Service since 9/11/01 100%36+ months 90%30-35 months 80%24-30 months 70%18-23 months 60%12-17 months 50%6 months 40%90 days 30 days + service connected discharge 100% http://newgibill.org/calculator/

14. 1.Student completes Veterans On- Line Application (VONAPP) 2.Eligibility is determined and a certificate of eligibility (COE) is sent to the student 3.The student sends a copy of the COE to the school’s certifying official 4.Certifying official confirms student’s enrollment status and reports through the VAONCE system 5.Financial aid office confirms eligibility and determines student’s final award package with the benefits included

15. 34 CFR 673.5(c)(2)(v) The Secretary does not consider as estimated financial assistance Federal veterans’ education benefits including but not limited to Chapters 30 and 33, REAP, and DEA* *See Volume 3 of the FSA Handbook for more details The Veteran’s Award: Regulatory Requirements Public Law 111-377 Institution must report the in-state tuition and fees assessed by the institution not to exceed the highest in- state tuition rate minus any scholarships and/or discounts. The VA will pay the resulting net in-state tuition/fee charges after all applicable aid has been applied.

16. ED mandates that VA Education Benefits cannot reduce a student’s need for federal student aid. VA mandates that it will only pay for tuition and fees after all other aid (except Title IV) has been taken into consideration ED mandates that VA Education Benefits cannot reduce a student’s need for federal student aid. VA mandates that it will only pay for tuition and fees after all other aid (except Title IV) has been taken into consideration A student with in-state tuition of $18,000 receiving a tuition specific scholarship of $16,000 will only be eligible to receive $2,000 from her Post 9/11 GI Bill, even if she is eligible at 100% for up to $18,000 a year. However, the student’s $2,000 will not count against her eligibility for Pell Grant money or other federal funds. A student with in-state tuition of $18,000 receiving a tuition specific scholarship of $16,000 will only be eligible to receive $2,000 from her Post 9/11 GI Bill, even if she is eligible at 100% for up to $18,000 a year. However, the student’s $2,000 will not count against her eligibility for Pell Grant money or other federal funds. Putting it all Together

17. Tuition/Fees Room & Board Books & Suppl. Transportation Miscellaneous $30,000 $12,000 $2,000 $1,000 Tuition Specific Sch Pell Grant Subsidized Unsubsidized Post 9/11 GI Bill @ 80% $16,000 $2,000 $3,500 $4,000 Josephine Sergeant – Post 9/11 Beneficiary, Independent 1 st year student VA says it will give Josephine 80% of cost of national average (up to $17,500) after her scholarship has been applied: $11,200 Total: $34,900 $30,000 - $16,000 = $14,000 $14,000 x $80% = $11,200 Comprehensive costs: $46,000

18. Putting it all Together Tuition/Fees Room & Board Books & Suppl. Transportation Miscellaneous $30,000 $11,000 $2,000 $1,000 General Scholarship Pell Grant Subsidized Unsubsidized Post 9/11 GI Bill @ 100% Yellow Ribbon $16,000 $2,000 $3,500 $4,000 Josephine Sergeant – Post 9/11 Beneficiary, Independent 1 st year student VA says it will give Josephine 100% of cost of tuition (capped at $17,500) but scholarship can be applied towards all comprehensive costs including books. She was also awarded the Yellow Ribbon scholarship: $16,000 – $15,000 = $1,000 $17,500 $11,500 Total: $53,500 Comprehensive costs: $46,000 $29,000 - $17,500 = $11,500

19. Putting it all Together Tuition/Fees Room & Board Books & Suppl. Transportation Miscellaneous $30,000 $12,000 $2,000 $1,000 Tuition Specific Sch. Pell Grant Subsidized Unsubsidized Montgomery GI Bill $16,000 $2,000 $3,500 $4,000 Pedro Jiminez – Montgomery GI Bill Beneficiary, Independent 1 st year student VA says it will give Pedro his full monthly benefit of $1,648 each month enrolled full-time, regardless of any other scholarships applied. Pedro will be taking 9 months of classes. $1,648 x 9 months = $14,832 $14,832 Total: $40,332 Comprehensive costs: $46,000

20. Section 480( c) of the HEA includes information about excluding veterans’ education benefits from EFA. However, only the Yellow Ribbon portion of the institutional award is excluded as EFA. Tuition Gap = $11,500 VA Pays $5,750 Institution Pays $5,750 Tuition Gap = $11,500 VA Pays $5,750 Institution Pays $5,750

21. The Veteran’s Award: Housing Allowance HEA Sec. 472: Cost of Attendance and BAH For students living in housing located on a military base or housing for which they receive a military housing allowance (Basic Allowance for Housing, “BAH”), the room and board COA component shall include an allowance for board only. HEA Sec. 472: Cost of Attendance and BAH For students living in housing located on a military base or housing for which they receive a military housing allowance (Basic Allowance for Housing, “BAH”), the room and board COA component shall include an allowance for board only.

22. The Veteran’s Award: Housing Allowance SCO Handbook V3: Distance Learning and the Housing Allowance Effective October 1, 2011. Individuals only enrolled in distance learning courses will be eligible for a monthly housing allowance equal to 50% of the national average of all Basic Allowances for Housing. SCO Handbook V3: Distance Learning and the Housing Allowance Effective October 1, 2011. Individuals only enrolled in distance learning courses will be eligible for a monthly housing allowance equal to 50% of the national average of all Basic Allowances for Housing.

23. Putting it all Together Tuition Room & Board Fees Books & Suppl. Transportation Miscellaneous $30,000 $12,000 $1,000 $2,000 $1,000 Tuition Specific Sch. Pell Grant Subsidized Unsubsidized Post 9/11 GI Bill @ 100% Yellow Ribbon* Rosie Riveter – Post 9/11 Beneficiary, Independent 1 st year student, distance learner living on military base $16,000 $2,000 $3,500 $4,000 Total: $29,500 $5,000 $40,000 VA Pays 100% of tuition minus scholarship $30,000 - $16,000 = $4,000 $4,000 None Comprehensive Costs *Rosie is still active duty, so therefore ineligible for Yellow Ribbon funds

24. Student is packaged above the COA. How can this be? ED Electronic Announcement 8/13/09 Institutions may not exclude from COA the amount of VA education benefits Student is packaged above the COA. How can this be? ED Electronic Announcement 8/13/09 Institutions may not exclude from COA the amount of VA education benefits

25. VA Awarding Considerations Limiting veteran student loan debt Transparency surrounding the combination of VA Benefits with institutional aid Gap between FAFSA and VONAPP: how to identify students sooner

26. QUESTIONS?

27. Melody DeFlorio, Associate Director Norwich University mdeflori@norwich.edu 802-485-2019 Melody DeFlorio, Associate Director Norwich University mdeflori@norwich.edu 802-485-2019