UE to Offer Free Tuition to Military Veterans
Published: July 14, 2009
The University of Evansville is throwing open its doors to all veterans of America’s armed forces, offering a free education to anyone with 36 months of active service since 9/11.
The program is part of the nation’s new GI Bill, through which the federal government will pay tuition and fees for veterans based on the amount of time they have served since 9/11. The law caps the government’s contribution at the total in-state tuition and fees for the state’s most expensive institution (in Indiana, this is Indiana University, whose tuition was $8,231 in 2008/09); however, through the government’s new Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, the government also will match, dollar-for-dollar, any contribution made by an individual college or university to a veteran’s education.
As a participant in the Yellow Ribbon program, the University of Evansville has pledged a $9,555 scholarship for any veteran who has served at least 36 months active duty since 9/11. That, coupled with the government’s match and the funds from the GI Bill, creates a free educational opportunity for any veteran who qualifies.
Veterans who have served less than 36 months active duty since 9/11 will receive pro-rated financial assistance from UE and the government, based on their amount of time active.
“The University of Evansville is proud to offer the opportunity for a free education to all of the men and women who have so bravely served our great nation,” said Thomas Bear, UE vice-president for enrollment services. “These are individuals who willingly and knowingly put themselves in harm’s way in order to protect our nation and the freedoms we enjoy every day; now that many of them are returning home, there is no question that each and every one has earned the right to a quality education that will set them on whatever course they seek for the rest of their lives.”
The financial awards available through the GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon program also are available for the family members of qualifying veterans. Thus, if a veteran wishes to use this award to pay his or her child’s way through college, or to split it between themselves and their children (or even to split it among multiple children), the law allows them to do so.
As part of the program, the University of Evansville has energized its veterans’ assistance programs by creating an Office of Veterans Affairs. The VA coordinator will be responsible for reaching out to veterans and providing on-campus support organizations.
These expanded GI Bill benefits were championed by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), who introduced the initial legislation. The “yellow ribbon” provisions were added at the behest of Sen. John Warner (R-Va.). The final measure also includes provisions sought by the Bush Administration to permit service members to transfer education benefits to family members.
