GI Bill Benefits

1. GI Bill Benefits What are they How did they come to be what they are

2. There are presently 6 Chapters of GI Bill benefits in effect and in use at CSU. What are they and how did all this come to be?

3. Here are the Chapters: Chapter 30 MGIB-Active duty Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation & Education Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill Chapter 35 Dependents Educational Assistance Chapter 1606 Selected Reserve/National Guard MGIB Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program

4. More than16.5m Americans mobilized • Over 671,000 wounded, over 405,000 died • President Roosevelt tasked two committees to explore options • American Legion drafted the GI Bill of Rights • Included hospitalization, employment, home and business loans, mustering out pay and education. • Within 6 months Congress passed Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 • “The GI Bill”

5. Five years after war 4 of 5 veterans received benefits Veteran population grew from 4.3m to more than 18.2m In 1946 VA added Vocational Rehabilitation and Education After Korean War Omar Bradley headed Presidential Commission that resulted in Veterans Benefits Act of 1958 Revised and codified all laws relating to VA as Title 38 of the U.S. Code 1966 Congress passed the Vietnam GI Bill to restore educational benefits CSU first approved for GI Bill benefits By 1978 only 20% of eligible had participated

6. 1973 draft eliminated replaced by all-volunteer force • Congress passed the Veterans’ Educational Assistance Act of 1984 • aka Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) • Made permanent by Congress in 1987 • By 1990 approx. 900,000 had participated • 72% participation rate • MGIB comprised of 2 chapters: • Chapter 30 – Active duty • Chapter 1606 – Reserve/Guard

7. Elect to reduce 1st 12 months pay by $100 • Can be used while active duty after 2 years • Army, Navy and Marines could offer “College Funds” • 2001 Public Law enabled increase of $5,400 with $600 contribution • Present Rate is $1,368 full time, $1,518 with buy up.

8. Chapter 1606 Reserve/Guard benefit used for retention • Granted by DoD upon completion of AIT • Must remain in drilling status with a unit • Present full time rate $333 per month • DoD can award additional for understaffed jobs • Members can also be granted tuition assistance

9. Reserve and Guard members deployed • October 2004 Congress passed • Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) Chapter 1607 • Members eligible upon 90 days in designated contingency operation • 90 days to 1 year, 40% • 1 year – 2 years 60% • Over 2 years 80%

10. Vocational Rehabilitation and Education • Chapter 31 • Discharged with at least 10% service related disability • 30% realistically to be accepted • Goal of employability • May be trade school, college or university • When admitted, VA pays all tuition/fees • books, necessary supplies and living allowance

11. Dependents Educational Assistance • Chapter 35 • Spouse and children of service members • Killed, lost in action, POW • or veterans rated 100% disabled • Eligible dependent has 45 months and 10 years to use it • Presently pays just over $900 per month for full time

12. Two Wars • Deployments and redeployments • Continual rise in costs of higher ed. • Election year! • Senator Jim Webb (R) Virginia • Post 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008 • Opposed by DoD, McCain and Bush • To aid retention, right of service member to transfer entitlement added

13. New GI Bill came with unequaled level of complexity • VA given 14 months to implement it • Tuition and fees payments made directly to schools • Different rate for students in each of the 50 states • Monthly Housing Allowance based on DoD BAH • for school zip code • Presently $1,033 per month for CSU • $1,000 per year maximum for books and supplies

14. So, who is entitled to this Post 9/11 benefit? • Will all who are entitled receive all of this? • Anyone who has served active duty under federal orders in a contingency operation for at least 90 days since September 10, 2001 is entitled to some benefit

15. The following chart outlines the breakdown of benefits based on amount of service • Individuals serving an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, Maximum Percentage of Benefit Payable • At least 36 months ……………………………….100 % • At least 30 continuous days and • discharged due to service • connected disability ………………………………100% • At least 30 months < 36 months ………………….90% • At least 24 months < 30 months ………………….80% • At least 18 months < 24 months ………………….70% • At least 12 months < 18 months ………………….60% • At least 6 months < 12 months ………………….50% • At least 90 days < 6 months ………………….40% • Presently $497 per credit maximum tuition • $45,387.50 maximum fees

16. Colorado Maximum presently $497 per credit maximum tuition • $45,387.50 maximum fees • $45,387.50 maximum fees? • Aims Community College Helicopter Training Program…

17. Active duty are automatically eligible to use some or all of the benefit, and when 6 years active duty service is attained, can transfer some or all remaining benefit to dependent(s) Bill created two entirely new classes of individuals entitled to the benefit. Officers and their dependents A whole new class of dependents Most are new freshman Some grads Couple of DVM students

18. Supposedly all a veteran has to do is submit an application on the VA website and receive a Certificate of Eligibility from the VA. • Everyone has heard how backed up the VA is in processing all of their work • 10 to 12 weeks behind in processing applications and the certifications • Headaches for schools and financial hardship for countless students

19. The Secretary of Veteran Affairs ordered advance payments for as much as $3,000 be made • Everyone has heard how backed up the VA is in processing all of their work • 10 to 12 weeks behind in processing applications and the certifications • Headaches for schools and financial hardship for countless students • Decision was made at CSU to cover student accounts from 3rd party billing.

20. GI Promise Tuition Reduction Act • All honorably discharged veterans waiver on year wait for in-state tuition • Post 9/11 pays just under half nonresident tuition

21. Vice President of Student Affairs Blanche Hughes • Veterans Committee headed by Dean of Students Anne Hudgens • What changes needed to be made to make CSU more military/veteran friendly. • Adult learners and Veteran Services • $100,000 American Council on Education/Walmart grant • Official CSU student organization • Student Veterans of American national organization • SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society

22. How many veterans at CSU? • Application now asks the question. • Helpful websites developed.

23. Military Veterans If you’re looking for a university that appreciates your contributions and unique needs, you’ve come to the right place. CSU is home to more than 500 veterans, active duty personnel and reservists, and our programs reflect our commitment to the people who’ve served our nation. The recent launch of the Veterans Green Jobs Education Initiative is just one way we provide opportunities to students like you. The CSU Student Veterans Group is the state’s first and only member of the Student Veterans of America, a network of college organizations throughout the country. SVA works as an advocate for student veterans at the local, state and national levels. SALUTE, meanwhile, is the first national honor society -- established by CSU -- for student veterans and military in two- and four-year institutions of higher education. Members include retirees, disabled veterans, active duty military, ROTC, National Guard and reservists returning to higher education,starting second careers or helping to fund their college careers with military service. Review Veteran Information for Freshman Applicants if... You have never taken college academic courses OR You have completed 12 or fewer semester college credits since graduating from high school or earning your GED (refer to "Notes," below) Review Veteran Information for Transfer Applicants if... You have graduated from high school or have your GED AND You currently are taking or have taken more than 12 semester credits of academic college-level course work since high school graduation or equivalent (refer to "Notes," below) Review Veteran Information for Returning Students if... You previously were admitted to and regularly enrolled in course work at Colorado State University and subsequently have been absent for at least one fall or spring term AND You wish to return to complete a degree that is already in progress. This includes any undergraduates called to active duty while enrolled as degree-seeking students. If you completed your first degree at Colorado State and wish to return to complete a second degree or additional undergraduate course work, refer to the Second Bachelors/Postgraduate information. If you are a returning graduate student, please refer to the Graduate School website. *Notes:Credits must be from a two- or four-year college/university accredited by one of the seven regional associations of schools and colleges. Course work completed at an institution accredited by any other bodies/agencies is not recognized for admission or transfer credit. While your military training may be awarded college-level credit in transfer, only academic work completed at an accredited institution is used to determine your applicant type. If the only college-level courses you took were before you earned your high school diploma or GED, you are considered a freshman; however, all college-level courses are evaluated for transfer credit, regardless of when they were completed.

24. The long-standing service to veterans and eligible dependents of the Registrar’s office in providing certification for GI Bill benefits through my office, the Veterans’ Educational Benefits Office and the development over the last year of the services offered by the Adult Learners and Veterans Services office as well as the outreach of the Admissions office are all part of the ongoing effort to attract veterans to Colorado State University and make them feel welcome by addressing their special needs.

25. QUESTIONS?