Awarding our Veterans and their Families

1. Awarding our Veterans and their Families

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

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

7. Putting it all Together Josephine Sergeant – Post 9/11 Beneficiary, Independent 1st year student Tuition/Fees Room & Board Books & Suppl. Transportation Miscellaneous $30,000 $12,000 $2,000 $1,000 $1,000 Tuition Specific Sch Pell Grant Subsidized Unsubsidized Post 9/11 GI Bill @ 80% $16,000 $2,000 $3,500 $4,000 $11,200 Comprehensive costs: $46,000 Total: $34,900 VA says it will give Josephine up to 80% of annual cap ($20,235) after her scholarship has been applied: $14,000 x $80% = $11,200 $30,000 - $16,000 = $14,000

8. Putting it all Together Josephine Sergeant – Post 9/11 Beneficiary, Independent 1st year student Tuition/Fees Room & Board Books & Suppl. Transportation Miscellaneous $30,000 $12,000 $2,000 $1,000 $1,000 General Scholarship Pell Grant Subsidized Unsubsidized Post 9/11 GI Bill @ 100% Yellow Ribbon $17,000 $2,000 $3,500 $4,000 $20,235 $8,765 Comprehensive costs: $46,000 Total: $54,500 VA says it will give Josephine 100% of cost of tuition (capped at $20,235) but scholarship can be applied towards all comprehensive costs including books. She was also awarded a Yellow Ribbon scholarship: $46,000 – $17,000 = $29,000 $29,000 - $20,235 = $8,765

9. Putting it all Together Pedro Jiminez – Montgomery GI Bill Beneficiary, Independent 1st year student Tuition/Fees Room & Board Books & Suppl. Transportation Miscellaneous $30,000 $12,000 $2,000 $1,000 $1,000 Tuition Specific Sch. Pell Grant Subsidized Unsubsidized Montgomery GI Bill $16,000 $2,000 $3,500 $4,000 $14,832 Comprehensive costs: $46,000 Total: $40,332 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

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Putting it all Together Rosie Riveter – Post 9/11 Beneficiary, Independent 1st year student, distance learner living on military base $16,000 $2,000 $3,500 $4,000 Tuition/Fees Room & Board Books & Suppl. Transportation Miscellaneous $30,000 $12,000 $2,000 $1,000 $1,000 Tuition Specific Sch. Pell Grant Subsidized Unsubsidized Post 9/11 GI Bill @ 100% Yellow Ribbon* $5,000 $14,000 None Comprehensive Costs $40,000 Total: $39,500 VA Pays 100% of tuition minus scholarship $30,000 - $16,000 = $14,000 *Rosie is still active duty, so therefore ineligible for Yellow Ribbon funds

13. 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

14. 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

15. QUESTIONS?

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