UP will participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program beginning next fall
By Emily Sitton
Veterans who have recently served in Iraq and Afghanistan will soon reap the benefits of a new program designed to assist them with college tuition.
In the fall UP will participate in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program. Other universities across the U.S. may also make similar decisions to participate in the voluntary program.
The Yellow Ribbon Program is part of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, which becomes effective this August. This program will allow veterans to receive VA funds, fund-matching and a waiver from UP to cover their tuition.
UP chose to join the program when the Department of Veterans Affairs made a presentation to the enrollment management team, which includes university officials from several departments including financial aid and the registrar's office.
"Without exception, everyone who sat around the table thought it was the right thing to do," said John Goldrick, vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Life. "There were no naysayers, even though it will cause more work for everyone."
The University's goal is to have each veteran's tuition fully covered through the combination of funds, said Denis Ransmeier, vice president for Financial Affairs.
While the program may draw new students to UP, it may also help some current students.
One of those students is junior Jereme Kemp. Kemp served in the Marine Corps from 2002 to 2006 before he joined ROTC at UP.
"I think the Yellow Ribbon Program is actually one of the best things the government has passed in a long time because the old bill was unrealistic with the rising cost of tuition," Kemp said.
Although Kemp is eligible for the program he said he doesn't need the benefits because his ROTC scholarship covers his tuition.
Kemp is not the only student who is eligible for the program. There are 26 veterans on campus who may benefit, according to Goldrick, but eligibility and initial VA funding is determined on a case by case basis.
"It couldn't hurt for every single one of them to look into it because it's a great educational benefit," said Jill Socotch, enrollment verification and VA coordinator.
The program also allows for universities to set a cap on the number of students who may receive tuition waivers. UP will not limit the number of students who may receive benefits in the first year of the program, although it will be able to set a limit in any given year.
"At this point there's no cap," Socotch said. "The sky's the limit."
Funds from the Yellow Ribbon Program are available to veterans who served for three years after Sept. 10, 2001, were honorably discharged for a service connected disability after serving 30 days following Sept. 10, 2001, or are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement who meets the prior criteria.
The program has three steps in the funding process. First, the VA will pay the equivalent of Oregon's maximum in-state tuition for a public institution. Second, UP will waive a percentage of the remaining tuition. Third, the VA will match the percent that UP waives. For more information on eligibility and the funding process visit the GI Bill Web site http://www.gibill.va.gov and click on the Post-9/11 GI Bill link.
The Yellow Ribbon Program does not offer additional money for schools to provide assistance for veterans who may be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder because students already receive benefits from the VA. The Health Center and the VA Hospital in Portland are available to veterans who will attend UP.
"It makes me pretty happy that I go to a school that is willing to do that for veterans," Kemp said.
