Veterans Benefits GI Bill

For the first time ever, Veterans Benefits GI Bill has put together a Top 25 Military-Friendly Schools list for the military student community. By providing this list, we hope to further educate the active duty, reserve, veteran students and their family members, whether current or prospective, on the best colleges and universities available.

Veterans Benefit GI Bill chose our Top 25 Military-Friendly Schools based on: the financial aid options available to service members, such as participation in the Post 9/11 GI Bill’s Yellow Ribbon Program and scholarships; the percentage of overall student recruitment budget allocated to recruiting military students; the school’s proximity to a military base and/or availability of distance learning programs friendly to personnel; the school’s academic accreditations; available military scholarships and tuition assistance;  participation in the MyCAA program; and whether the school’s featured at GI Jobs and other top military-friendly school lists.

The following are the Veterans Benefits GI Bill’s Top 25 Military-Friendly Schools:

1. Columbia College: A leader in military school education and a U.S. News America’s Best Colleges of 2010 university, Columbia College is an excellent choice for campus and online students alike. Not only is Columbia College tailoring programs for military family and service members across the nation, they are part of a green initiative program for the environment.
2. Excelsior College: Get maximum credits for your military training at Excelsior College. Excelsior College awards over 50,000 credits to military students every year through DANTES and CLEPS exams.
3. Bellevue University: Bellevue University welcomes both online and campus-based students and offers affordable, quality education from professors with “real world” experience.
4. TUI University: TUI welcomes active duty U.S. Armed Forces personnel. Advance your career and build your future at this accredited, prestigious university.
5. Saint Leo University: Saint Leo University is a military-friendly Catholic school in Florida. Campus-based programs have served students for over a century, and the Center for Online Learning is state-of-art. Experience quality, accredited education at this prestigious, military-friendly university.
6. Duquesne University: At Duquesne University, “students learn with mind, heart and spirit.” This Catholic-Spiritan school offers military-friendly education with a strong moral foundation. They are a a U.S. News America’s Best Colleges of 2010 university.
7. Southern Illinois University Carbondale: The Veterans Educational Services at Southern Illinois University Carbondale provides assistance for veterans and their families for the GI Bill, National Guard Grant, Illinous Veterans Grant, and more. The military-friendly educational programs are an ideal choice for the veteran student.
8. Jones International University: At Jones International, military family and service members may choose from accredited doctorate, graduate, and undergraduate academic programs that are delivered 100% online.
9. Kansas State University: Kansas State is home to over 250 undergraduate major options for the military family or service member. GI Jobs has already previously recognized Kansas State for its excelling military-friendly educational programs and services.
10. Hawaii Pacific University: Hawaii Pacific University has military-friendly, accredited degree programs and scholarships available for military service and family members. Learn at the cusp of the United States with students from several countries, either at a campus or online.
11. Coastline Community College: Coastline Community College is part of the CCCD, including Coastline, Golden West, and Orange Coast Community Colleges. Affordable, accredited, quality programs are tailored for the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and more.
12. American Sentinel University: American Sentinel University offers military-friendly programs 100% online, with military experience to credit options and affordable and flexible learning.
13. Western Governors University: Military-friendly programs at WGU are offered 100% online and may be accelerated with previous military experience. Study from accredited graduate and undergraduate programs.
14. The University of Oklahoma: The University of Oklahoma attracts students from across the nation and over 100 different countries. Their military-friendly programs are just the start of a wide array of accredited learning opportunities.
15. Strayer University: Strayer University is proud to work with military service and family members on their educational goals. Get credits for military experience and help with the GI Bill programs.
16. Grantham University: The 100% online military-friendly programs at Grantham University allow students to start with credits based upon previous military and professional experience.
17. Thomas Edison State College: At Thomas Edison State, military family and service members may prepare for a civilian career, advance rank, or earn a degree while serving the country. Get help utilizing your GI Bill at TESC.
18. Columbia Southern University: More than half the student body at Columbia Southern University are part of the military. Military discounts, CLEP, GI Bill assistance, and more are offered at this accredited, military-friendly school.
19. American Intercontinental University Online: American Intercontinental University Online has 100% online degree programs tailored for military family and service members across the nation. AIU offers military credits and career-oriented degrees.
20. Capella University: Capella University has earned the Military Advanced Education Gold Standard as a Yellow Ribbon Program supporting, military-friendly school.
21. Central Texas College: Central Texas College supports spouses of military service members with MyCAA. The military-friendly degree programs can be tried out with the free online career planning tool.
22. Colorado Technical University: At Colorado Tech, military family and service members can turn their career-oriented educational goals into a reality. Experience an exciting, accredited, and military-friendly university at CTU.
23. Webster University: Webster is a military-friendly school with both national and international campuses for military students looking for a worldly background.
24. San Diego City College: SDCC’s military outreach program brings education to the military base. Another excellent, military-friendly college.
25. Colorado State University Pueblo: At CSU-Pueblo, students may find assistance for their MGIB or Post 9/11 GI Bill and attend military-friendly classes in a rich and rewarding state.

Take some time to look at the colleges provided on this list and learn more about their educational programs. The best college choice is different for every student and your ideal college may not be part of this list, but we hope this guide, at the very least, will help point military family and service members in the right direction.

The U.S. Department of Education sponsors a free-to-the-veteran education program to assist low-income, disabled, and first-generation college bound veterans which is designed to help them “knock the rust off of their academic skills” and then enroll in the school of their choice. There are approximately 46 such Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) programs located throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The best way to find out if there is a VUB program in a specific city or state is to go to the National Association of Veterans Upward Bound Project Personnel website.

The National Association of Veterans Upward Bound Project Personnel (NAVUBPP) is the professional association for Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) staff personnel. Veterans Upward Bound projects, supported by NAVUBPP, are designed to help develop the personal potential of military veterans. The VUB staff and instructors assist veterans by improving, developing upon, and extending the educational access of opportunities that veterans are eligible for. This is determined through academic needs assessment, instruction, enrichment, and other academic support activities.

Communication and cooperative effort with schools, communities, agencies and other organizations at the local, state, regional, and national level are among the other primary functions of NAVUBPP. The NAVUBPP also seeks to improve services and educational opportunities for veterans by serving as a forum for exchange of knowledge and ideas. NAVUBPP provides for continuing professional development of VUB staff members, and serves as a network of communication for information related to quality delivery of veterans’ services. Lastly, NAVUBPP encourages professional research and publication, as well as cooperative effort with other organizations committed to serving veterans and addressing veterans’ issues.

Forty-eight Veterans Upward Bound projects are currently funded across the U.S. An annual conference with emphasis on professional development of individual members and VUB project staff is the highlight activity each year for the Association.

Interested veterans can contact anyone listed within the website. Please help us spread the word about this small, but free, government-funded veterans’ program.

The 3rd Annual Guide to Military Friendly Colleges and Universities is now available to view. This guide includes colleges and universities gathered together from the editors of the KMI Media Group that provide military-friendly benefits, programs, and support. This uniform, pertitent information should help prospective students select a school to begin or continue their advanced education. Some of the schools in the guide offer a broad range of educational choices; others are highly specialized.

Some of the benefits many of these schools offer:

• Distance learning programs that don’t require students to step foot onto a physical campus, for military students that are deployed or otherwise unable to attend a camppus
• Financial aid departments that support the Yellow Ribbon Program and/or Post 9/11 GI Bill
• Academic programs that count military experience towards a degree
• Schools that have specialized scholarships and/or other benefits for military spouses, children, and/or service members

The 3rd Annual Guide to Military Friendly Colleges and Universities opens with a word of caution: “not any one of these schools is necessarily the best choice for any individual student. This listing is merely intended as a guide to some, but by no means all, of the colleges and universities serving military-related students in the United States today. Among the attributes considered in evaluating schools is their regional or national accreditation and their membership in the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) consortium, which ensures that members meet set criteria for granting credit for specified military experience and training. All the schools in this guide, unless otherwise noted, are SOC members.”

When going through the guide, certain schools are marked with icons to the right of their names. These are schools with multiple benefits for a military family or service member. There are also schools marked with an icon resembling a computer mouse that provide commendable distance learning programs. Schools with excelling academics have an icon of a hand holding a pen. Those that are friendly to veterans in particular have medal. Several schools have more than one specialized icon.

Check out the following schools that are included in the guide:

• Saint Leo University
• Hawai’i Pacific University

You can download the guide here.

The Council of College and Military Educators, CCME, is a non-profit organization founded over three decades ago to help deliver quality educational opportunities to service members and their families; their services extend out to family and service members of the military. Their members include military educators, civilian educators, post-secondary educational institutions, and suppliers of military-friendly educational services.

Students looking for a college or university for their Post 9/11 GI Bill, MGIB, or other military benefits may rely on schools that are members of the CCME for quality military education. Take Hawai’i Pacific University, for example; CCME recently selected Hawai’i Pacific University for the 2010 Institution Award for the significant contributions made to the cause of voluntary off-duty military education programs. Only one university is selected per year for this award, and they must meet the following criteria:

The nominee must be an institution directly involved in the support of voluntary off-duty education to the armed forces.

The Awards Committee, at its discretion, may seek a written recommendation from the nominee’s institutional leader (president, provost, dean, etc.).

The Awards Committee shall ascertain that the nominee’s organizational accomplishments are deserving of the award, and that these accomplishments demonstrate the nominee’s dedication and leadership in supporting quality voluntary off-duty education to the armed services.

If a nominee has been the recipient of any CCME Award in the past 5 years they are deemed an ineligible nominee.

Students interested in additional financial aid may apply for a military scholarship of $500 through CCME (deadline in September), which may be applied towards a military-friendly college or university. Students interested in the military-friendly programs Hawai’i Pacific University has to offer should check out their military-friendly graduate programs section.

Yesterday, the VA processed 8,716 Post 9/11 GI Bill applications and 8,220 applications to other military benefit programs. This is a jump from the amount being processed weekly just a couple months ago. In addition, they have closed the call centers on Thursdays and Fridays to open up staff to process the applications faster. While this is not the most optimal situation, already improvements are being shown for the Post 9/11 GI Bill in 2010.

One of the critical upgrades to the Post 9/11 GI Bill process that the VA has mentioned and will hopefully become active this year is the ability to facilitate Post 9/11 GI Bill 100% electronically. This means that employees can focus more on keeping the call centers available five days a week and addressing special cases instead of being piled up in paper after paper of Post 9/11 GI Bill application forms. The VA understands the frustration this places not only on their employees, but on the veterans, reserve, and active duty (and family members!) whose education relies on their financial aid, so it’s expected these positive changes will continue to advance the GI Bill’s process.

Meanwhile, on the student’s side of the fence, everyone’s getting excited over the coming Spring 2010 semester. Some students have already started. The Veterans Benefits GI Bill blog has received comments on students receiving their Post 9/11 GI Bill funds and book stipends, so the ball is rolling a little straighter than Fall 2009.

If you’re preparing your Post 9/11 GI Bill for 2010, here are some resources to check out:

• DegreeGo for college resources and online and campus schools
• GI Jane Benefits for military spouses
• The GI Bill page at the Department of Veteran Affairs

If you start school in Fall 2010, that’s an extra bonus that you’re getting a head start on your school preparation.

Next week, Veterans Benefits GI Bill will be looking at an exciting new site launch for Saint Leo University, one of our recommended military-friendly online and campus colleges, so stick around; you just might find an ideal college for your future education! Saint Leo University supports the Yellow Ribbon Program offered through the Post 9/11 GI Bill. If you simply cannot wait for our review, check out their site here.

For families that are relying on the family transferability option with the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the authorization of short term extensions will cease come the end of the year. This means that the only way to qualify for family transferability is to serve six or more years and also agree to serve four more years.

This is unsettling for several military members and stirs up a debate. On one hand, the benefits are part of the earnings of serving the military and should be available to the spouse and children of someone that’s been in the military for 10+ years, regardless of if they’re retired. On the other hand, the military needs some form of military retention so that recruitment demands are not as high, and the Post 9/11 GI Bill’s family transferability is one way to do it. The previous Montgomery GI Bill did not even allow family transferability.

Which side of the fence are you on? Do military members deserve the benefits they earn, and the right to determine who those benefits go to?–or should those benefits only be available to the military service member and the military reserve the right to offer family transferability to encourage retention? It’s the latter of the two that’s the truth, but that doesn’t mean those affected by the Post 9/11 GI Bill discuss the possibilities of the other side.

On a brighter note, the Post 9/11 GI Bill is anticipated to go more smoothly in the coming Spring 2010 semester. Why? The VA’s worked diligently on an online system that will make the paperwork much easier to process, rather than relying on the handiwork of VA employees for each and every submitted paper. This will allow veterans, active duty and reserve members that are utilizing the Post 9/11 GI Bill–and the spouses and children that have been approved for family transferability!–to get access to the benefits available to them without having to wait until the last few weeks of the semester.

The Post 9/11 GI Bill has lead to a stressful year for many military personnel, to say the least. Now’s the time for a break! In spirit of this Holiday’s favorite toy, the Veterans Benefits GI Bill invites veterans, reserve and active duty to answer the following question:

What would you do with a Zhu Zhu Pet at your military base?

Here are five uses for a Zhu Zhu Pet the Veterans Benefits GI Bill came up with:

1. Use your Zhu Zhu Pet to clean your gun (or bazooka!)
2. Line up broken Zhu Zhu Pets for target practice
3. Hook up a Zhu Zhu Pet to act as a spy camera
4. Play Zhu Zhu minesweeper
5. Partake in Zhu Zhu parachuting contests

Zhu Zhu Pets are definitely the latest craze. For example, the K-12 Directory of Schools Blog is in the middle of a  Free Zhu Zhu Pet Giveaway for parents that send a request in for their children. The Veterans Benefits GI Bill blog does not encourage the destruction of these highly sought after toys that are bringing joy to children this year; however, if you have a Photoshop-rendered image or idea that you would like to share for a light-hearted laugh, feel free to share.

Don’t know what a Zhu Zhu pet is? Check out the following for more information on this year’s high-demand toy:

• Learn about the free Zhu Zhu Pets at the K-12 Directory of Schools Giveaway
• Zhu Zhu Pets driving Toys R Us Black Friday
• Are Zhu Zhu Pets Dangerous?
• Safety regulations of Zhu Zhu Pets

Happy Holidays from Veterans Benefits GI Bill!

Discharged service member may burn the bridges for financial aid or government jobs

Being discharged from the military (except in the case of an honorable discharge) means that the ex-military personnel is denied veterans benefits of any form, including the Post 9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill. It’s important than any active duty or reserve member be familiar with these terms, as well as those looking to join the military to serve their country and receive military benefits (documented as one of the highest incentives for military recruitment.)

Different Discharges

The reasons behind dishonorable discharges, the worst kind of discharge possible, seem warranted; they go down a list of moral faults like sexual assault, murder, desertion, refusal to comply with orders and mutiny. General court-marshals are required to allocate these dishonorable discharges. Other discharges, however, are not as clear-cut on the morality scale, and may not require the General court-marshal’s approval.

The top two for a general discharge is homosexuality and drug use. General discharge allows the military member to receive VA medical benefits, but they are nixed from the financial aid programs available and must sign a document acknowledging that “substantial prejudice in civilian life” may be encountered under a general discharge. This can also be used as an administrative discharge in order to rid of any problems in a unit.

In between a general discharge and a dishonorable discharge is the OTH, or “Other Than Honorable” discharge. OTH is the most severe administrative discharge available. Divorce, adultery, or being brought to a civil court may result in this. OTH is often given in lieu of a proceeding with a court-marshal, avoiding a Dishonorable Discharge. A heated issue falling in this category lately is married couples or other service members getting pregnant, or impregnating another service member, while on duty.

Lastly, there is ELS, or “entry level separation,” which applies to discharges made during the first 180 days of service.

Effects of Being Discharged

In addition to losing military benefits, military personnel that are discharged may have issues with: acquiring a government-related job such as police officers; acquiring any kind of job that does a background check (many people say that dishonorable discharge service members are condemned to burger flipping); denial of financial aid to family members; denial of service in the future to family members; and criminal markings on your permanent record.

Military-friendly colleges participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program extend beyond the universities and colleges that focus on traditional subjects. For example, there are military-friendly chiropractic schools that participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students that attend chiropractic schools won’t find the standard array of college degrees; instead, chiropractic schools focus exclusively on preparing students for a health care career in chiropractics, a nationally and globally growing occupation that held a mean salary of over $100k in 2007.

Chiropractic school prepares military students for a rewarding health care position that focuses on a philosophy and technique based on: wellness for the community; the ability to heal the body; and career success.  This does not imply that military students in chiropractic school miss out on the benefits of traditional education, though; students still learn based on scientific, philosophical, and hands-on approaches for a well-rounded educational experience. Take a look at Sherman College of Chiropractic, for example: this chiropractic school is backed by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; the Commission on Accreditation of the Council of Chiropractic Education; and by the U.S. Department of Education through the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. The extensive accreditations ensure that students receive quality, up-to-date education throughout their stay at college.

For military students seeking additional financial aid beyond the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program, there are several scholarships available:

• President’s Scholarship: Students may be eligible if their previous academic GPA is 3.3 or higher and they continue to uphold a 3.3 GPA at Sherman College. The scholarship awards $1500 each quarter for the first four quarters.
• Dawn K. Lenfest Scholarship and Milton. W., Louise and Samuel Scholarship: These are awarded based on financial need and academic performance.

Financial aid representatives are more than willing to answer the questions of military students looking to apply for aid through the Post 9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill, as well as any questions the student has concerning the Yellow Ribbon Program. Every school has a specific amount they offer through the Yellow Ribbon Program; Sherman College offers $2,000 in benefits per quarter through the Yellow Ribbon Program—half from the college, and half from the VA—which covers nearly a third of the tuition expenses. In order to be eligible, the military student must fulfill the Post 9/11 GI Bill’s criteria:

• Have served an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months; or
• Were honorably discharged from active duty for a service connected disability and they served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001; or
• Are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Interested in this exciting, military-friendly program? Learn more about it today.

Are you the spouse of a military member looking for an alternative to the family transferability option for the Post 9/11 GI Bill? The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts, or MyCAA, is available to the spouses of members of the military. This $6,000 financial aid program is often referred to as “Spouse Tuition Assistance” and is available through Military One Source at 1-800-342-9647.

Eligibility

Spouses of military members that are recognized under: Department of Defense active duty; and federally activated members of the National Guard and the Reserve Components; qualify for MyCAA. Spouses of Guard and Reserve members only qualify for MyCAA from the date of the Alert of Warning Order for Military Recall or Mobilization until 180 days following De-Mobilization.

The Department of Defense uses Defense Elibility and Enrollment Reporting Systems (DEERS) to determine the spouse’s eligibility. It is the responsibility of the service member to ensure that all information provided to DEERS is correct. MyCAA does not correct the information contained in DEERS. The spouse will not be considered eligible for the financial aid benefit until after passing their DEERS screen.

Military spouses must be recognized as marital partners by state law or court order. Spouses who are also members of the military waive the rights of eligibility because they can utilize GI Bill benefits instead. Coast Guard spouses, unfortunately, do not qualify; this is found under Public Law 110-417 Sec 582.

Spouses of the military members killed in action (KIA), taken as prisoners of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA) are also eligible, along with spouses of military members that are injured, ill, or wounded.

Education Methods Covered

MyCAA will provide $6,000 of Financial Assistance to military spouses pursuing an educational degree, license, or credential. It only applies to portable career fields that are congruent with the military member’s service.

Educational degrees fall under the premises of associates degrees, bachelors degrees, masters degrees, doctoral degrees, and post doctoral degrees. Bar, CPA, state certification for teachers, medical licensing, and other similar exams are covered. MyCAA will pay for separate supplies for classes, such as books, cosmetology tools, manuals, and so on.

Additional Notes

• MyCAA does not pay for any form of education that includes computers, whether they are CPUs or laptops; any application, graduation or membership fees; any student activity cards; or the child care, parking, transportation, and/or medical services required to attend a higher education program.
• Spouses that enroll in a course without an approved MyCAA Financial Assistance (FA) document are responsible for paying course costs.
• MyCAA does not provide reimbursements of any kind to spouses for any reason.
• MyCAA FA payments are made directly to schools using MyCAA’s electronic invoicing system.

How to Apply

A military spouse must create a MyCAA Career and Training Plan to apply for MyCAA Financial Assistance (FA). The Career and Training Plan will include the spouse’s chosen career path, the name of the school attended, and all course information available, including course titles, codes, costs, and starting and ending dates. Incorrect information will result in a rejected application.

FA requests are done every time a spouse adds specific course/start end dates that begin within the next 90 days. It’s imperative that the spouse give the correct school name and campus location in order to prevent any billing problems. Career and Training plans are allowed to be edited (i.e., courses changed or dropped) up to ten days prior to the start date of the course. Courses may be added up to 7 days past the course start date.

Eligible spouses can establish a MyCAA Account by visiting the MyCAA website ~ https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa.