EduMilitary

The GI Bill is Not Enough

2011-11-16T15:44:00.000-06:00

The GI Bill is Not Enough

The post at Eduwonk is by Eric Greitens, a Navy SEAL and founder of The Mission Continues. You can read more about Mission Continues in this NYT story or by visiting their website. In it Greitens discusses education and American’s veterans. Veterans Day is Friday, please keep these issues in mind.

Once they packed for War, now they pack for College: How to help veterans win the fight to stay on campus

Common Core State Standards will help Military dependants

2011-11-15T10:48:00.000-06:00

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are good for the sons and daughters of Service Members. It will mean that when they move to attend a new school they should still be on the same content - or close to it. As states go through the task of implementing CCSS, it is good to know that Laying the Foundation is working hard to help:

From the press release on Common Core State Standards:
"DALLAS, Nov. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Laying the Foundation (LTF) has recently stepped forward to become one of the leading providers of teacher lessons and activities aligned with the Common Core State Standards. With its ten-year record of providing results-driven, content-focused teacher training and classroom-ready resources, the nonprofit organization has taken its rigorous program to the next level to help middle school and high school teachers understand and implement the new standards in their classrooms.

"We didn't start out to create a program to meet Common Core State Standards—we created a program to build academic excellence in our teachers so that they could deliver challenging lessons to ensure that more students were college ready," said Dave Saba, CEO of Laying the Foundation. "With some incredible work by the teachers on our staff, we have aligned our goals to ensure that our LTF teachers can lead the way in Common Core State Standards implementation."

Remember that Laying the Foundation is a part of the National Math and Science Initiative which is driving the Initiative for Military Families - bringing more challenging math and science curriculum to high schools that serve military dependants.

Better education = better opportunities for our children!

Happy Veterans Day

2011-11-08T11:31:00.002-06:00

To all who serve - our sincere thanks!

Military Delays Cuts to Tuition Assistance

2011-10-31T11:47:00.001-05:00

http://chronicle.com/article/Defense-Dept-Delays-Action-on/129585/

Good news on the TA front - no action yet from Defense Dept on cuts to the Tuition Assistance programs in each of the military branches.

BUT DON'T WAIT!! Study now - we keep warning you to USE IT OR LOSE IT. Whether it is Tuition Assistance, MyCAA for spouses or even GI Bill - the cuts are coming. It is not a matter of 'if' but 'when'.

Navy Paying Students to take and Pass AP Exams

2011-10-31T11:27:00.000-05:00

An OK article on a great program - the Navy has teamed up with the National Math and Science Initiative to offer incentives to students and teachers who take and pass STEM AP exams. Taking a rigours AP class and passing the exam is an outstanding way to prepare for college and by passing, you earn college credit reducing the cost of college.

Ed Week has the article about the Navy Paying Students in AP.

VOW Act aims to reduce Veteran Unemployment to under 5%

2011-10-12T12:45:00.000-05:00

The VOW Act is about this country keeping its vow to Veterans that we will respect and appreciate their service. Yet Veterans have significantly higher unemployment rates of 15% compared to the nationally rate of 9%. Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veteran's Affairs has introduced H.R. 2433, The Veteran Opportunity to Work Act of 2011.

The basics of the bill are to make Transition Assistance Programs for those getting out of the service mandatory, create tax breaks for hiring veterans, provide improved certification for translating military certification to similar civilian certification, recognizing National Guard service, provide additional funding for education.

It is time to address this problem and thank you to Rep. Miller for taking action!

Choosing the right school for military and veterans!

2011-10-11T08:17:00.001-05:00

A new guide is out from the VA on Choosing the Right School with some great resources for military and veterans who are ready to earn the degree. The basic questions you need to ask are:

What do you want to study - looking at majors and what will fit best with your career plans
Is the school military friendly - a key to making life easier on using benefits and understanding military schedules
Will you get credit for military training
Will credits transfer if I switch schools (only go to regionally accredited schools - and make sure they have a good reputation)
What are school graduation rates - some are so low, you know you will not succeed - pick one that supports their students so they graduate. Don't burn your benefits and have nothing when you are done (see item 4)
Along with item 5, what are the retention rates - how many make it year to year with a special focus on the freshman year retention

Go to the VA website and print this out - put all your schools you want to attend on a chart and compare them to make sure you are going to the right school for you!

STEM Educator Workshop!

2011-10-06T14:51:00.005-05:00

A great day for educators in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics with Astronaut Alvin Drew!

It's Finally Here! Housing for Online GI Bill Students!!

2011-09-29T07:51:00.000-05:00

October is the month that so many online students have been waiting for - they can finally receive the housing allowance while using their GI Bill for online programs. This is huge for students - especially those where a traditional campus will not work.

Online students will receive a housing allowance of $673.50 a month - half the national average of what traditional students receive. The first checks will arrive in October.

I know when I spoke with many students, this was a huge issue and they did not want to take online programs because they lost so much money. VA expects 40,000 students to take advantage of this benefit - but I will bet it is a lot higher!

Considerations You Should Keep in Mind About Online Education

2011-09-27T13:26:00.001-05:00

Traditional universities are becoming obsolete in today’s economy. Gas prices are high and people’s schedules are even more varied than ever. The convenience of online colleges to earn a degree is very practical in today’s society. Online classes allow students to maintain full-time jobs and take care of other responsibilities in addition to their studies.

There are over a million enlisted members of our United States military, many of whom are interested in returning to school to prepare themselves for civilian life. Programs offered through web-based schools can range from information technology to law to business. While some institutions require a mixture of online and on-campus classes, other programs can be completed entirely online. Depending on your level of involvement in the military, you could choose either option for school.

STAY ON TRACK

Many people begin an online education program only to find out they don’t really enjoy the subject, or become interested in something else. Completing a program requires dedication, perseverance, and character. Remember that there are no boundaries, just obstacles. However, as with any education, it may be necessary to stumble down the wrong road in order to find your true calling or passion. Military servicemembers as much as anyone else can find themselves trapped in jobs that don't fit who they are or the possibilities they could achieve. It's a strange feeling to be caught up in a circumstance you wish not to be in. For many, web-based education is the key to getting on a new track and moving one step closer to occupations with better promise and fit.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Many online schools offer some type of financial aid. Funding your passion is a critical part of the process of getting a degree in a field of your interest. Applying for federal funding sources such as a Stafford Direct loan is easy by filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid). You'll want to compile your tax returns from the previous year to provide necessary information such as adjusted gross income, your filing status, number of dependents, and other pertinent details.

For veterans, a more significant contribution from the government may come from the Montgomery GI bill. You qualify for GI bill benefits if:

• You contributed $100 a month for the first 12 months you were in active duty, or qualify under VEAP conversion.

• You have completed high school or earn an equivalency certificate before you apply for benefits.
• You have served at least two years on active duty.

Although you can begin using your benefits after two years of service, it may be financially wise to utilize your benefits after you've completed your seven-year contract. This is because the VA distributes your benefits differently while on active duty. For a great FAQ on the GI Bill:

TRANSFERS
Seeking to transfer to a different department within your service branch may take considerable time. Although all military branches will accept a request for a transfer to a different operational job, the time it takes for the entire process to complete is often long and may not go as you'd like.

As an alternative, you may take matters into your own hands by applying to an online school. During the first year or two of getting familiar with military life, many seek a way to escape the daily duties of their assigned positions. If your assignment allows you the time, online education can provide just such a change of pace. However, the time and effort necessary to complete a course of study online shouldn't be underestimated. Moreover, military training is often just as good if not better than what private institutions can offer, so don’t overlook potential options to acquire valuable skills and qualifications from your service itself.

The world is upside-down and crazy, but you can prosper by following your passion, whatever it is. The government has financial assistance in place ready for veterans to pursue continued education during or after their service. Web-based study can be an outstanding option in either circumstance, but whatever choice you make should be carefully considered.

The Global Report Card is UP!

2011-09-27T13:20:00.002-05:00

http://www.globalreportcard.org/
From the Bush Institute - pretty cool website to look at how your school district ranks against all other countries. Very enlightening - also a little disturbing that DC performs so much better than Dallas.

Updated MyCAA FAQ a great resource for college bound spouses!

2011-09-21T15:40:00.000-05:00

If you have not seen the new MyCAA FAQ on the Military OneSource website, then you don't have all the updated knowledge you need to use the MyCAA program to move forward with your education. This is a great program even with all the cuts and changes and it is funded.......for now.

Just as with any military education program - use it or lose it. Big spending cuts are looming and who knows what they will cut next. They are already talking about cuts to military retirement - long considered untouchable!

So please - take advantage of MyCAA while you can.

Some Retirees can transfer GI Bill Benefits

2011-09-20T15:29:00.000-05:00

Navy Times has the story that Some Army, Air Force retirees can still get GI Bill transfers due to the fact that there was confusion during the time it went into affect in from Aug1 to Nov 2009. Read the article if you think you fall into that time frame and might be able to transfer.

Get a Jump on College

2011-09-19T09:08:00.000-05:00

My friends over at Straighterline.org have a great article on how their program can give military members an edge in earning their degree. Many Service Members may be waiting to get started on their degree until they get CONUS or waiting until a new semester begins - but you don't have to. Many college and university programs will let you start when you want to start. The beauty of Straighterline is that you can start when you want and finish faster - you take the classes when you have the time.

Take a look at their article for those looking at using the GI Bill for Education.

Meet us in HOUSTON for STEM Education Workshop!

2011-09-13T08:53:00.000-05:00

eSchool News has a great piece on Laying the Foundation's one day STEM education workshop for teachers. This is going to be a great event so please help spread the word.

More on LTF Training One Day STEM Event!

Cut Tuition Costs

2011-09-09T13:28:00.000-05:00

Money Magazine has a great article about bringing some sanity back into college costs. When you select your college, please make sure that you are looking at all costs and make sure you know the freshman retention rate and the 4 year graduation rate. You GI Bill is not going to cover the 6 year plan and for many schools that is the norm.

NASA and LTF host STEM Conference!

2011-09-08T14:39:00.002-05:00

Contact:

Kaci Schack
marketing@ltftraining.org
214.525.3009
www.ltftraining.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Laying the Foundation Announces Keynote Speaker for Educator Conference in Houston
DALLAS, TEXAS – Laying the Foundation (LTF), a nonprofit organization that provides content-focused teacher training and classroom resources, announced the keynote speaker today for its upcoming One-Day Educator Conference at J. Frank Dobie High School in Houston, Texas. The October 1st Conference is designed for 6th-12th grade English, mathematics, science, social studies, art history/studio, and music theory teachers with the goal of providing strategies for building a college-ready environment in their schools. Registration may be accessed through www.ltftraining.org .

The conference will feature NASA Astronaut Alvin Drew, who will speak about his experiences as an
engineer, the importance of STEM education, and his missions in space. He has degrees in physics,
astronautical engineering, aerospace science, and strategic studies in political science. For NASA, he has logged more than 612 hours in space while flying over 10 million miles. He has also served as the
Director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia.

The conference will feature over 50 workshops that will provide teachers with content knowledge,
strategies, and classroom-ready lessons on topics of interest they select. Teachers will leave the
conference with materials and strategies that they can use immediately in their classes to implement
rigorous state and national standards.

LTF has worked with NASA’s Human Research Program Education Outreach (HRPEO) project to provide teachers state-of-the-art math and science lessons that incorporate data from NASA space missions and LTF instructional strategies, and utilize the TI-Nspire for data analysis. These lessons provide another tool that teachers can use to get their students excited about science and to understand the critical need for math expertise.

“You cannot fix the college readiness gap or improve STEM education without great teachers with the
right resources,” said Dave Saba, CEO of Laying the Foundation. “Col. Drew will lead the way toward inspiring our teachers to challenge their students to become tomorrow’s scientists and engineers.”

About Laying the Foundation
Laying the Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the best content-based, pedagogy-driven, teacher-to-teacher training, supported by rigorous classroom-ready lessons and web-based resources to improve the quality of English, mathematics, and science instruction. LTF has trained over 34,000 teachers to date and has demonstrated dramatic increases in Advanced Placement exam participation and success in STEM subjects. LTF believes that training, mentoring, and empowering the teacher corps will lead to high standards of academic excellence for all students.
###

The Comprehensive Look at GI Bill Changes

2011-09-08T13:41:00.000-05:00

So many exciting changes to the GI Bill in GI Bill 2.0, that it takes a rather large post - directly from the GI Bill website shown below. The big news is housing for distance learning, flight training and National Guard!! These are big but our country is going broke - SO DON'T DELAY. Use it or lose it. I don't know cuts are coming but the feds have to do something and the bill for these benefits is going to get big fast.

"Upcoming Changes to The Post-9/11 GI-Bill
Effective August 1, 2009, but not payable until October 1, 2011

Expands the Post-9/11 GI Bill to include Active Service performed by National Guard members under title 32 U.S.C. for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the National Guard; or under section 502(f) for the purpose of responding to a national emergency.

Effective March 5, 2011

Limits active duty members to the net cost for tuition and fees prorated based on the eligibility tiers (40%-100%) previously established for Veterans.
- Same limitations apply to transferee spouses of active duty servicemembers

Effective August 1, 2011

For Veterans and their transferees - simplifies the tuition and fee rates for those attending a public school and creates a national maximum for those enrolled in a private or foreign school
- Pays all public school in-state tuition and fees;
- Private and foreign school costs are capped at $17,500 annually;
- The Yellow Ribbon Program still exists for out-of-state fees and costs above the cap.
For Active Duty Members and their transferees - creates a national rate for those active duty members enrolled in a private or foreign school pursuing a degree
- Pays all public school in-state tuition and fees;
- Private and foreign school costs are capped at $17,500 per academic year (an academic year begins August 1)
Allows VA to pay MGIB (chapter 30) and MGIB-SR (chapter 1606) ‘kickers’, or college fund payments, on a monthly basis instead of a lump sum at the beginning of the term
Prorates housing allowance by the student’s rate of pursuit (rounded to the nearest tenth)
- A student training at a rate of pursuit of 75% would receive 80% of the BAH rate
Break or interval pay is no longer payable under any VA education benefit program unless under an Executive Order of the President or due to an emergency, such as a natural disaster or strike.
- This means that when your semester ends (e.g. December 15th), your housing allowance is paid for the first 15 days of December only and begins again when your next semester begins (e.g. January 10th) and is paid for the remaining days of January.
- Students using other VA education programs are included in this change. Monthly benefits will be pro-rated in the same manner.
- Entitlement that previously would have been used for break pay will be available for use during a future enrollment.
Allows reimbursement for more than one “license or certification” test (previously only one test was allowed).
- However, entitlement is now charged
Allows reimbursement of fees paid to take national exams used for admission to an institution of higher learning (e.g., SAT, ACT, GMAT, LSAT)
Allows those who are eligible for both Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (chapter 31) benefits and Post-9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33) benefits to choose the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s monthly housing allowance instead of the chapter 31 subsistence allowance.
NOAA and PHS personnel are now eligible to transfer their entitlement to eligible dependents

Effective October 1, 2011

Allows students to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill for -
- Non-college degree (NCD) programs: Non-college degree (NCD) programs offered at non-degree granting schools: Pays the actual net costs for in-state tuition and fees or $17,500, whichever is less. Also pays up to $83 per month for books and supplies.
- On-the-job and apprenticeship training: Pays a monthly benefit amount prorated based on time in program and up to $83 per month for books and supplies.
- Flight programs: Per academic year, pays the actual net costs for in-state tuition and fees assessed by the school or $10,000, whichever is less.
- Correspondence training: Per academic year, pays the actual net costs for in-state tuition and fees assessed by the school or $8,500, whichever is less.
Housing allowance is now payable to students (other than those on active duty) enrolled solely in distance learning. The housing allowance payable is equal to ½ the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents.
- The full-time rate for an individual eligible at the 100% eligibility tier would be $673.50 for 2011.
Allows students on active duty to receive a books and supplies stipend.

For changes that affect schools click here.
More information is forthcoming, please check back or view our Frequently Asked Questions for more information. You can subscribe for updates to the Frequently Asked Questions and will receive an email when changes are posted. Click here to view our FAQ on these changes.

25 Resources of the GI Bill

2011-09-07T09:52:00.000-05:00

The GI Bill is always confusing - but here are some resources that will help you get through the muck and find what you need. Many are pushing online colleges, but they have the information you need so it is still worth checking out if you have not found it here (search on the right).

Enjoy - 25 Resources for the GI Bill

STEM High Schools

2011-09-07T09:48:00.001-05:00

STEM - science, technology, engineering and math, are the subjects most valued by the military in looking at new recruits. And it comes as no surprise to military members, that military offspring are staying the family business and going into the military as well.

So if you want your children to succeed, finding a great STEM school might not be a bad idea - here is a list of the top 12 STEM high schools in the country.

Credit By Exam

2011-09-06T12:26:00.000-05:00

I get quite a few emails about the military education blog here - but this one seemed worthwhile in passing on. DSST is announcing a contest they have just launched where veterans and military members will get the chance to win free DSST exams for college credit and a grand prize of $750 (the average amount saved by earning college credit through DSST vs. taking a 3-credit course in a traditional university setting).

The contest is geared towards veterans and military members because DSST tests (formerly known as the DANTES exam) allow for servicemen and women to earn college credit for the real-life experience they already have. With our contest, these courageous individuals can share their stories and be rewarded for it.

In order to submit an entry, users must visit the contest tab on the DSST Facebook page [ http://on.fb.me/oe1IJq ] and answer the following 3 questions:

What is your story? [Ex: “I'm a veteran going back to school”]
How can a DSST exam help you? [Ex: “It will allow me to earn college credit for the experience I already have”]
What would you do with the money saved by earning college credit with DSST? [Ex: “Buy books for school”]

Each month, one entrant will win a free DSST exam voucher. The grand prize, to be awarded at the completion of the contest, is $750 towards the item(s) indicated in the answer to question #3. All contest entries will be judged on creativity, clarity, and relation to educational needs.
If you’d like to share this information with your network, you can direct them to the contest tab on our Facebook page [http://on.fb.me/oe1IJq].

Keep me posted if any of our readers win!!

END of the FREE EDUCATION!

2011-08-25T12:52:00.000-05:00

Bad news for all military - especially those that did not take advantage of their tuition assistance. Inside Higher Ed is reporting that budget cuts may require that military personnel pay up to 25% of their degree programs. The budget cuts would affect over 300,000 students who are using TA. It is not a done deal and there are other possibilities beside the 75%/25% split including lowering the $4,500 cap per year or lowering the $250 per credit hour. But they need the cost savings so some hit is coming to tuition assistance.

This is yet another blow to for-profit schools which have already seen a sharp decrease in enrollments.

Cost Effective Courses

2011-08-25T08:58:00.000-05:00

Great article in the New York Times called "A Way to Speed the Pace" about Straighterline.com - they provide online general education courses so that you can complete those courses at a much faster rate and lower cost. The article states that you can complete your freshman year for about $999! Pretty incredible savings.

But the greatest benefit may be to speed up your learning process. You complete the courses at your own pace. So if you want to take a week and knock out your college algebra, you can. When I was in the Navy, we had the first distance learning program in Florida (note - they sent us video tapes in the mail to watch - so cutting edge). Whenever the annoying want to hear himself talk guy asked a question, we could just fast forward. So awesome.

Straighterline is a great way for military members or their spouses get a jump towards the college degree and not worry about short term deployments or duty getting in the way.

GI Bill for Culinary School

2011-07-18T11:49:00.001-05:00

We get a lot of questions about using the GI Bill for culinary school and the answer is no - - - UNLESS, that programs leads to a degree like the one at the New England College of Business and Finance. They have a Associates of Business Adiminstration degree program in Food Safety and Culinary Management online - so at least it gets you in the business.

Medal of Honor

2011-07-12T14:16:00.001-05:00

From MSNBC:

"President Barack Obama bestowed a Medal of Honor on Tuesday afternoon to Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry, the second living soldier to win the military's highest decoration for actions in Afghanistan.

Obama noted at the ceremony's start that Petry is only the second living recipient of the medal from the Afghan and Iraq wars.Petry, originally from New Mexico, is among nine servicemen from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts to win the award — given for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty."

"Leroy Petry showed that true heroes still exist and they're closer than you think," Obama said.

Petry lost his hand while throwing away an enemy grenade that endangered two fellow Rangers while he was serving in Paktya, Afghanistan, on May 26, 2008."

Congrats and THANK YOU!

"A teammate said he'd never seen someone hurt so badly," Obama said, "despite wounds he remained calm and put on his own tourniquet, and told medics how to treat him. ...

"When the fight was won, a teammate came to shake his hand. It was the first time he shook hand of true hero that ranger said."

Military Education: save time and money!

2011-07-11T15:47:00.001-05:00

For any potential college students in the military or for veterans, take a look at MyEdu. There is a great New York Times article on the company "Crusading From Outside to Lower College Costs"

From the article
"The company’s revamped site still allows for professor ratings, but students can also customize a degree plan that matches their desired workload in each semester and, if they choose, can help them devise the quickest path to graduation. The company, which was recently featured in a United States Chamber of Commerce report on the future of higher education, claims that 70 percent of users graduate on time, nearly double the national average.

MyEdu now includes 775 colleges and universities, up from about 60 when Mr. Crosno joined. In the first five months of this year, he said, the site logged about 2.5 million users.

MyEdu also lets students compare textbook costs. Part of the money from sales made through the site comes back to the company, one revenue stream alongside contextual advertising and sponsored content. Mr. Crosno said early efforts to charge for MyEdu services fell flat."

It is a free site with professor rating, degree management and text book cost comparison. It also has a way to balance your courseload, calculate your GPA and track your credits.

Your goal is to earn a degree - and anyone in school knows that college advising is generally lacking - so this site can help and if they have a graduation rate of 70%, that really is something!

Filling out FASFA

2011-07-05T12:34:00.000-05:00

Great little article on filling out FASFA for Veterans by Jennifer Williamson that looks at FASFA and Combat pay (you have to include it even though your are not taxed on it), you are independent (not a dependent on so no parent income) and your education benefits are not income.

Read the whole article here!

PBS on For-Profits and GI BIll

2011-06-30T09:38:00.000-05:00

There is a new PBS documentary on the aggressive recruiting tactics from for profit colleges . With 1/3 of all $10 billion military dollars going to for profit schools, this is a major concern. The last time they aired an expose, Congress started hearings.

There is so much money - of course non-profits will go after the military. Veterans have to beware and make the right decision.

See Educating Sergeant Pantke: for-profit colleges promise veterans a high quality degree - - but do they deliver?

Navy to Invest $100M in STEM Education

2011-06-20T08:48:00.001-05:00

Rear Adm. Nevin P. Carr recently held a forum to discuss that lack of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skill in America's youth.

The facts:

US is 48th in the quality of STEM education in high school
US is 27th in industrial nations in share of scholars who take STEM degrees in college
Non-Americans constitute 57% of college grads in STEM majors

So the Navy is going to invest $100 million to help our schools fix this problems so that they can have better recruits through programs like STEM training for teachers.

More to come!

Schools near Military Bases

2011-06-15T11:55:00.000-05:00

Laying the Foundation is working closely with the National Math and Science Initiative to improve Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education in schools near military bases. The teachers below received the training last week. This is really going to be great for military families!!

The value of your degree

2011-06-14T17:00:00.000-05:00

You are investing a lot of time and money in your degree. Even if the government is picking up the tab, you need to make sure you get the value for your time. Ask any other service member about the time committment and believe me, you don't want to end up with a crappy degrees after many years of effort.

So Schools.com has a little help:

Courtesy of: Schools.com

Definitely worth a look so that you can choose wisely.

Delta Welcomes Home Soldiers

2011-06-08T08:28:00.000-05:00

Way to go Delta - soldiers get screwed by Delta and they charge $2,800 out of pocket. COME ON! The military has a contract with Delta which the person chose to ignore. After an 18 hour flight defending our country you do this!!! We better see a damn big apology and soon!

D-Day thought

2011-06-06T13:36:00.000-05:00

One of my classmates from the Naval Academy posted this on his facebook to remember those, like his father, he secured our freedom at Normandy. They were the most amazing men - doing their job.

Eulogy for my Father

By Mark Powell

"We have come here to honor the memory of my father, Lawrence McClellan Powell, "Bunny" Powell.

My father was born October 5th, 1923. Over 73 years ago. He was a loving husband to my mother for over 49 years, a great father, a wonderful grandfather, a caring friend to many, a decorated veteran from World War II, a patriot. Dad was a man that believed in his country, in his family, and, most of all, in God and his son, Jesus Christ.

During the summer of 1994, my mother and I were sitting at our kitchen table having a quiet lunch together with my father. My father never spoke at length about the War and his participation. It was not his nature. He was involved in several major Amphibious Assaults with the Sixth Naval Beach Battalion. The most noted of these was on June 6th, 1944, D-Day. His unit arrived early, before the main invasion. Their task was to clear the beach of all obstacles. His unit sustained great casualties in some of the most intense combat of the war.

As I have previously stated, Dad never talked much about the war, but, on this summer day, he spoke at length about that event. My mother and I were stunned when he described in detail, the carnage and devastation. We were horrified.

At one point in his narrative, I looked at Dad and asked, "Were you Afraid?"

He paused, thought about it for a brief moment and answered, "You know, it is funny, you are afraid for the first 15 minutes and then you 'Do your Job'. We did our job …"

As the years have passed and I have had an opportunity to think about my father's life, this statement is a fitting metaphor for him. "We did our job."

The only addition that should be made: Bunny Powell did his job, with HONOR. For many years my mother has posted a quotation in our house: "Honor is the presence of God in Man." Honor was an important part of my father's life."

Thanks for passing this along.

Military Teachers of Pre-AP classes!

2011-06-02T10:01:00.002-05:00

There is a blog just for Pre-AP teachers and since so many military find a passion for teaching - we wanted you to be aware of this great resource. Tune into the LTF Training Blog and learn more about the resources and training available to teachers who want to ensure a college-ready climate in their classroom.

Enjoy and join in the discussion!

Great op-ed on what graduation means

2011-05-31T17:32:00.000-05:00

A must read Op-Ed by David Brooks called "It's Not About You" in the New York Times on the real meaning of graduating - and it is not about "you" in spite of what most graduation speeches say.

From the Op-Ed
"The graduates are also told to pursue happiness and joy. But, of course, when you read a biography of someone you admire, it’s rarely the things that made them happy that compel your admiration. It’s the things they did to court unhappiness — the things they did that were arduous and miserable, which sometimes cost them friends and aroused hatred. It’s excellence, not happiness, that we admire most.

Finally, graduates are told to be independent-minded and to express their inner spirit. But, of course, doing your job well often means suppressing yourself. As Atul Gawande mentioned during his countercultural address last week at Harvard Medical School, being a good doctor often means being part of a team, following the rules of an institution, going down a regimented checklist."

HAZMAT Specialist to Valedictorian!

2011-05-30T09:52:00.000-05:00

Great story over at Community College Spotlight about Army Staff Sgt. Dysha Huggins-Hodge who is the valedictorian at Anne Arundel Community College. She studied onlin in Afghanistan and earned all A's and graduated on time with her associate's degree.

She plans to earn her bachelor's in administration of justice and social work. In her speach she said:
"Just because you are a wife or you are a mother or you are a soldier or whatever it is that you have going on in your life, it doesn't necessarily mean that you can't do more - that you can't figure it out."

Congrats to Huggins-Hodge!

Memorial Day for the Classroom

2011-05-26T16:43:00.000-05:00

Kudos to Teach Hub for posting Memorial Day writing prompts so that students can understand why they have the day off!
http://www.teachhub.com/video-writing-prompts/cat/24/item/764

More to come on Memorial Day from around the country.

What is the value of a degree?

2011-05-24T13:09:00.000-05:00

Georgetown University provides the analysis on the value of your degree. So if you are thinking of leaving the military and want a career that can help you for the long haul - take a look at the results:

http://cew.georgetown.edu/whatsitworth/

"While there is a lot of variation in earnings over a lifetime, the authors find that all undergraduate majors areworth it, even taking into account the cost of college and lost earnings. However, the lifetime advantage ranges from $1,090,000 for Engineering majors to $241,000 for Education majors."

"there are some fields with virtually no unemployment: Geological and Geophysical Engineering; Military Technologies; Pharmacology, and School Student Counseling. While majors with the highest unemployment rates are in the fields of: Social Psychology (16 percent); Nuclear Engineering (11 percent); and Educational Administration and Supervision (11 percent)."

Know the facts before you invest your valuable time and money in a degree!

Free SAT/ACT Prep for Military

2011-05-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

Military.com has a reminder that eKnowledge is donating $200 SAT/ACT Prep software to military and their extended families. They have donated over165,000 PowerPrep programs. Go to www.eknowledge.com/MIL (there is a small $13.84 fee for shipping and handling).

This is great for military children, military spouses and Servicemembers to ensure they ge the score they need to get into the school they want.

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity - so make sure you prep for the SAT/ACT!

GI Bill: Changes to Flight Training

2011-05-23T19:08:00.000-05:00

If you are going to use your Post 9/11 GI Bill for flight training this fall, make sure you check out the VA's GI Bill website for the latest information:

Not available under the Dependents Education Assistance program. Not available under the Post-9/11 GI Bill prior to October 1, 2011

This benefit is available for Flight Training such as:
•Rotary wing qualification
•B747-400 Qualification
•Dual Qualification
•Flight engineer

In order to qualify, you must have a private pilot's license and valid medical certification before beginning training. Payments are issued after the training is completed and the school submits information to the VA.

Flight training under Montgomery GI Bill or REAP
If you are training under the Montgomery GI Bill or REAP the VA will reimburse you for 60% of the approved charges.

Flight Training Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill
If you are in an approved flight training course you will receive your housing allowance and the books and supplies stipend. The Yellow Ribbon Program may apply for those enrolled in degree programs.

Approved Flight Training Courses
•Currently if you are training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill you can only be paid if your flight training is in a program leading to a college degree and we will pay the approved charges not to exceed the state maximums.
•Effective October 1, 2011 the following flight training reimbursement is approved under the Post-9/11 GI Bill:
◦If you are enrolled in any degree program that consists of flight training at a public Institution of Higher Learning you can be reimbursed up to the resident in-state cost of the training
◦If you are enrolled in any degree program that consists of flight training at a private Institution of Higher Learning you can be reimbursed up to the full cost of the training or $17,500 per academic year, whichever is less
◦If you are enrolled in any type of vocational flight training you can be reimbursed up to the full cost of training or $10,000 per academic year, whichever is less

That should clear it up!

Army outlines GI Bill Benefits Transfer

2011-05-19T07:24:00.000-05:00

Great outline on how to transfer your GI Bill education benefits. Should be a must read for all active duty Servcie Members! They put this information because they are haivng so many problems with Servicemembers having the wrong information causing dependants to lose their benefits.

Stay informed - take a look at the link and make sure you have the right information!

LTF Training

2011-04-13T13:19:00.000-05:00

There will still be a EduMilitary blog, but I have recently been named as CEO of Laying the Foundation - so please follow us on twitter there as well: @ltftraining - much more to come as we work hard with NMSI for military families to give them the best chance to be ready for college.

Grades Drop when Parents Deploy

2011-04-07T09:01:00.000-05:00

Not a shock to find this out, but we need to do something to fix it - A recent study found that student performance drops when a parent deploys 19 months or more. Worse, school staff have not been trained to watch for this and take steps to help.

From the Rand press release:
"Researchers from the RAND Arroyo Center examined 44,000 students who were children of soldiers of all ranks in the active Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard, in North Carolina and Washington state. They analyzed the link between parental deployment and student achievement test scores. They also interviewed staff at schools on or near two large Army installations about the challenges the students face, and interviewed experts and key stakeholders about the barriers to behavioral health services for the students.

"Children with a parent who has deployed 19 months or more particularly face academic difficulties as evidenced by state test scores," said Amy Richardson, lead author of the report and a policy researcher at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. "This is consistent across rank or component of the soldier, seniority of the soldier, gender of the deploying parent, and gender of the child."

We need school staff training to help combat this problem. Our military families suffer enough during long deployments, lets find ways to ensure they can still succeed in school.

The study - "Effects of Soldiers' Deployment on Children's Academic Performance and Behavioral Health"

CEO of Laying the Foundation

2011-04-04T12:18:00.002-05:00

It is official - I am the new CEO of Laying the Foundation: press release here.

Michelle Obama Kicks off Military Family Support

2011-04-03T07:21:00.002-05:00

From the Chicago Sun Times:

Michelle Obama kicks off national drive April 12 to highlight plight of military families; launch coming after month delay

By Lynn Sweet on April 1, 2011 12:52 PM | No Comments

WASHINGTON--First Lady Michelle Obama is going to step up her support for military families, launching a national drive on April 12--along the lines of her "Let's Move" anti-obesity campaign--to highlight her new initiative.

Mrs. Obama is partnering with Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Biden; the two women have been headlining military family events since the beginning of the Obama administration. While assisting military families has long been in Mrs. Obama's portfolio, her speeches and events related to obesity have overshadowed her military work--being done at a time the nations has been in two wars--and now has a third, in Libya.

The anticipated high visibility roll-out, long in the planning, has been delayed a month. "We've got military families. We've been laying the foundation for that. You're going to be watching a pretty big initiative in March," Mrs. Obama told her beat reporters on Feb. 8.

In a statement, the White House said Mrs. Obama's "initiative aims to educate, challenge, and spark action from all sectors of our society -- citizens, communities, businesses, non-profits, faith based institutions, philanthropic organizations, and government -- to ensure military families have the support they have earned.

"In the days following the launch, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will travel across the country to highlight the courage and strength of our military families, and the ability of our veterans and military spouses to strengthen our communities. They will also meet with men and women who are taking action, and lending a hand to those that have served our Nation."

As part of the overall push out of Mrs. Obama's enhanced military activities, Mrs. Obama will visit West Point on May 20 to address the 2011 graduating class of the U.S. Military Academy.

On June 3, Mrs. Obama delivers the commencement speech to graduates of Quantico Middle High School, located on the Marine Corps Base at Quantico and serving military children.

Student Veterans of America Guide to College

2011-03-24T10:20:00.001-05:00

There is a free Military to College Guide from Student Veterans of America (SVA). A great resource to help veterans understand the complexities of going back to school. SVA is rapidly expanding to campuses around the US to support veterans and help them succeed.

Here are some of the recommendations - and the guide also has a great checklist for getting ready for school.

Start with a few courses to ease the transition
Reach out to other veterans on your campus to establish a network of people you can rely on, just as you would have in your military life
Get to know your new professors and ask them for help
When studying, take notes, take frequent breaks and find a study partner
Take advantage of your school’s academic, tutoring and counseling services
Recognize your own signs of physical and psychological stress and seek help if you are overwhelmed
Practice regular exercise and relaxation techniques to help reduce anxiety and improve concentration
Participate in student activities to break down barriers and become part of the campus community
Recognize that others may not agree with you or understand your military service. Agree to disagree and respectfully decline to answer any questions that make you uncomfortable

Great tips and certainly worth the read. All military Veterans entering college should have a copy.

Math/Science and Military Students

2011-03-23T09:21:00.000-05:00

The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) is working with President Obama, Mrs. Obama and the Department of Defense on a math and science outreach initiative for students in military families. I got to spend some time over at NMSI to hear more about this great program to beef up math and science instruction and opportunities at schools near and on military bases.

For the White House this is a perfect next step to help with NMSI's Initiative for Military Families (IMF). The focus is on improving math and science education to get more students into Advanced Placement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

The DoD got involved due to the realization that they get a large number of recruits who are staying in the 'family business'. Military families understand the military and are one of the best places for the next generation of recruits. So it makes sense to invest in their education to ensure they have the technical abilities we need.

More to come on this but congrats to NMSI for taking care of our Military Families!!

Veterans in Higher Ed - a different view

2011-03-21T10:51:00.000-05:00

Returning Veterans of American has an essay posted by Ryan Berg - a former infantry Marine who deployed twice to Iraq. He takes exception to the positions that IAVA has taken on education. IAVA has said that "If veterans are [attending] they're seeing good value, and to some extent the market is going to drive [veterans to these colleges].

This is the fundamental issue - for-profits have filled a void left by non-profit schools providing online education in the areas demanded by veteran students. For-profits filled this space because there was a huge population to serve and the funding, provided by the government, to serve them.

There are issues and those need to be addressed. But Mr. Berg seems to move like many and indict the entire industry. There are many great schools meeting veteran's needs.

How to fix this?

Increased oversight by accrediting bodies
Improved education on education benefits at discharge
Improved resources for Veterans on how to make their education decision (not set up by a marketing company)
How about Veteran reviews of schools on the VA site? That would be something
Since most all of the schools use Veterans as recruiters - a code of conduct might help as well

I understand the frustration and we all have a responsibility for responsible leadership in working on Veteran Education. Veteran's who are employed by these schools need to stand up for Veterans or leave! We owe it to properly serve all those who have served.

High school diploma for military home schoolers

2011-03-18T09:58:00.000-05:00

Moving so many times disrupts education. This is an incredible burden for military dependents. Many end up homeschooling their children to ensure they get the education they need to succeed. But they might also need a high school diploma to make the transition to higher education easier. That is why VirtualEDU, powered by American High School started offering all 300 accredited online middle and high school courses for $49.95. In the first 2 weeks of March they had over 150 new students enroll in their online courses from all over the world.

They can help you help your student achieve their education goals without killing your budget. Whether you need one course or want to earn your high school diploma, VirtualEDU is there to help military families

GI Bill Tuition Caps

2011-03-16T11:22:00.000-05:00

If you have not bee to the VA blog, you need to see it. It is not just for the great posts on information that every student veteran needs, but also the discussions of other veterans on their issues. It is just great information.

The post on Private School Tuition Caps is one such entry. Alex Horton cover the new GI Bill 2.0 cap moving to a maximum of $17,500. The issue is that there are many students in the middle of their studies who will now have to shell out money to finish their education. The Yellow Ribbon program will help - but not all.

A total different problem for our friends at New England College of Business - their programs, including their MBA are all regionally accredited and LESS than the $17,500 cap. So they will not be listed as Yellow Ribbon school this year because they don't have to discount the program - it already will be fully paid for by the GI Bill

Vet Success Expands

2011-03-14T14:42:00.000-05:00

The VA announced that it is expanding the VetSuccess program to more campuses (but still no online schools where the majority of veterans study - slight disconnect).

Under the program a full time Voc Rehab counselor and part time Vet Center Outreach coordinator to provide VA benefits outreach, support, and assistance to ensure their health, educational, and benefit needs are met.

Arizona State University is one of the newest schools in the program and one of the schools that we work with on offering the education and nursing degrees. So congrats to ASU and thanks for making it a great place for Veterans.

20% Iraq / Afghanistan Veterans Unemployed

2011-03-11T09:13:00.000-06:00

Come on America - WAKE UP! You say you care about Veterans but you won't hire them? The Washington Post is reporting that our amazing Iraq and Afghanistan can't find employment and over 20% are unemployed.

Empty slogans of 'support our troops' are ridiculous if we don't back it up with jobs. Our troops are the best this country has to offer so why are they being passed over for jobs.

On this Friday - let's hire a Vet -it's not just the right thing to do for them, it's the right thing to do for your business.

Homeschool for Military Dependents

2011-03-08T13:07:00.000-06:00

Great press release on a fantastic deal for military homeschool students who want online courses - VirtualEDU is offering all 200 middle and high school courses for a subscription rate of just $49.95 per month. This is a pretty incredible deal for any home school family or just students that need credit recovery or summer school that their schools can't provide.

Please take a look - VirtualEDU offers fully accredited courses. Also, if you want to start your own Virtual private school, they offer turnkey virtual school programs.

Over 30% of homeschooled students in this country are military - it is great to see a program like this that can provide even more resources to their hard working parents for a reasonable rate.

Military Spouse Celebrates MyCAA

2011-03-08T10:36:00.000-06:00

Military spouse Tracie Jefferson is one of the many who are earning their degree through the MyCAA program. MyCAA is the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts designed to provide better career opportunities for military spouses. It was severely cut back in October of 2010 but it still remains a great way for spouses to earn their associates degree.

Tracie is using her benefits in a special program from New England College of Business and Finance that reduces the cost by over $12,000!!

Please read more about this amazing program and this amazing military spouse.

Yellow Ribbon Program!

2011-03-07T08:58:00.000-06:00

American College of Education and New England College of Business just received our notification to renew our Yellow Ribbon participation with the GI Bill. We are always excited to do this to make sure that our Veterans can earn their degree with zero out pocket costs for tuition.

What will be more interesting come August is the cap moving to $17,500 per year for Veterans and how that might shrink the list of schools participating. Know that ACE and NECB will still be there and working hard for our military members.

From the VA Site:
Benefits of the Yellow Ribbon Program

•Currently the Post-9/11 GI Bill pays up to the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition and fees.
•Effective August 1, 2011 the Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay all pay:
◦all public school in-state tuition and fees or
◦up to $17,500 annually for a private school.

Your tuition and fees may exceed these amounts if you are attending a private school or are attending a public school as a nonresident student.

Institutions of Higher Learning (Degree Granting Institutions) may elect to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program to make additional funds available for your education program without an additional charge to your GI Bill entitlement.

Institutions that voluntarily enter into a Yellow Ribbon Agreement with VA choose the amount of tuition and fees that will be contributed. VA will match that amount and issue payment directly to the institution.

Eligibility

Only veterans entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements) or their designated transferees may receive this funding. Active duty servicemembers and their spouses are not eligible for this program (child transferees of active duty servicemembers may be eligible if the servicemember is qualified at the 100% rate).

Therefore, you may be eligible if:

•You served an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months;
•You were honorably discharged from active duty for a service connected disability and you served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001;
•You are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on a veteran’s service under the eligibility criteria listed above.

Start a Military Virtual High School

2011-03-04T09:24:00.001-06:00

For those in the military that home school, or are a true education pioneer looking to help military families, there is a company that offers turnkey virtual schools. Depending on the potential size of the school, they will not charge an up-front fee and can have the school open in a matter of weeks.

Virtual schools for the military makes sense - military students can study from anywhere in the world and VirtualEDU offers the lowest possible cost (students can sign up now for $49.95).

I know there are some military spouses out there who are ready to start their military virtual school - let me know and I will help you get started! With over 700,000 military students homeschooled, this is a group that could use your help.

Testimony Lines up against For Profits

2011-03-03T08:48:00.000-06:00

The March 1, 2011 Congressional Hearings on military tuition assistance were pretty predictable. Click on the link and you can find the testimony.

Service members demand online programs because they are the only ones that fit with their ridiculous schedules. So these schools are here to stay. The solution is pretty simple and you don't need DoD to do anything and we don't need more regulations:

Tighten up Regional Accreditation and put some teeth into it so that it means something
Only pay for regionally accredited programs

From Harkin:
"In December, I released a report into these two programs and found that revenue from DoD educational programs at 18 for profit education companies increased from $40 million in 2006 to an unexpected $175.1 million in 2010, a 337 percent increase. Revenue from VA educational programs for the same 18 for-profit education companies increased from $26.3 million in 2006 to an unexpected $285.8 million for 2010, including a fivefold increase between 2009 and 2010.

Revenues from military education benefits at 20 for-profit education companies increased more rapidly than overall revenues in every year between 2006 and 2010. Finally, in the first year of Post-9/11 GI Bill implementation, the VA spent comparable amounts on tuition for students attending public schools and students attending for profit schools, but the VA funded 200,000 students at public schools compared to just 75,000 at for-profits."

Please - don't over-regulate - make the current regs work.

GAO report DOD Education Benefits

2011-03-02T16:22:00.000-06:00

Just in time for the hearing, there is a GAO investigation of the $517 million the DoD spends on education benefits through the tuition assistance programs in each branch of the service.

Unlike past GAO investigations, this one didn't name names as far as schools being too aggressive or having problems serving the military. But here are the facts:

71% of tuition assistance courses taken were through distance learning
377,000 service members used $517 million in tuition assistance
DoD lacks systems to track complaints about schools - so most of the research was hearing from ESO's
There are problems with payments and aggressive marketing by for-profit schools

Recommendations for DoD from GAO:

Improve accountability for recommendations made by third-party quality reviews
Develop centralized tracking for complaints against schools
Conduct systemic review of oversight process
Take action to ensure TA funds are used for accreditor-approved courses and programs
Require and verify state authorization for all schools

Will see what happens when we get a summary of the Congressional hearing today.

Congress Hears Tuition Assistance Issues

2011-03-01T14:10:00.000-06:00

HEARING: Preventing Abuse of the Military's Tuition Assistance Program
WASHINGTON – Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Security, will hold a hearing titled "Preventing Abuse of the Military's Tuition Assistance Program" on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. in room 342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.

The hearing will examine the state of the Department of Defense's (DOD) Tuition Assistance Program, which provides tuition assistance benefits to active duty military personnel who wish to take classes while concurrently fulfilling their active duty service requirement. In Fiscal Year 2009, 376,759 service members participated in the program and DOD spent over $517 million on the benefit. Allegations of several schools' abuse of the program – especially concerning recruitment practices – have recently been made public in the media. Consequently, the hearing will assess whether DOD has the proper structure in place to prevent against fraud and abuse of the Tuition Assistance Program by schools.

The hearing will include testimony from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on its assessment of DOD's oversight of the Tuition Assistance Program, including its ability to track complaints about schools and its level of interaction with the Department of Education.

"We want to ensure that our service members are receiving a quality education, and that the taxpayer dollars used to pay for these benefits are not being wasted," said Sen. Carper. "Unfortunately, recent reports indicate that some bad actors have taken advantage of our military personnel and have failed to deliver the quality of education they promise to our men and women in uniform. This is troubling news, and it raises some serious questions about the Department of Defense's ability to prevent against schools' abuse of the Tuition Assistance Program. Through this hearing, I intend to take a closer look at this situation and identify steps to prevent future abuse."

WHAT:
U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee Hearing "Preventing Abuse of the Military's Tuition Assistance Program"

WHEN:
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
2:30 p.m.
WHERE:
342 Dirksen Senate Office Building
WITNESSES:
Panel I:
The Honorable Tom Harkin
U.S. Senator
State of Iowa

Military Homeschool: Classes to fit your budget

2011-02-25T08:45:00.000-06:00

There is a tremendous new resource for military families that home school - and we know that there are over 640,000 military children who are home schooled - called VirtualEDU. VirtualEDU offers more than 200 accredited middle and high school courses for a subscription rate of just $49.95 per month.

This is a pretty incredible rate for some amazing online classes. So if you are a military family that is home schooling, please take a look at this. You can take unlimited classes for just a low monthly rate as opposed to paying thousands of dollars for each class up front.

Finally there is an online school that really cares about military families who home school - VirtualEDU.

WARNING: Military Ed Benefits, use 'em or lose 'em

2011-02-23T09:39:00.001-06:00

Budget Cuts - they are here to stay. Ask any E-7 spouse who waited to use her MyCAA education benefits if waiting was a good idea and you will get a resounding NO. He who hesitates is lost -

Back when MyCAA relaunched, DoD had this stark warning to the much fewer spouses who qualified:

Will the program be cut in the future? Not in FY 2011. However, in coming years, with a reduced defense budget a reality, every program will be closely scrutinized for its contribution to military family readiness

Then came the stark warnings from Carolyn Baker at the Council of College and Military Educators that both Tuition Assistance and the new GI Bill were "unsustainable" at current levels of participation.

From the Paycheck Chronicles blog:
"With the financial instability in our world today, it is foolish to assume that the military’s educational benefits will remain the same. Please do what you can to utilize those benefits now, and prepare yourself for the possibility that they might not be available in the future."

I can't be any clearer than this. The signs are everywhere that our current spending is not sustainable and there will be cuts. That means that GI Bill and Tuition Assistance will be cut in the future. If you don't get started, you might miss out.

Fear the cuts: Education Benefits - use 'em or lose 'em.

Missouri Veterans Sue Over Education Benefits

2011-02-22T08:50:00.000-06:00

From the Chronicle of Higher Education:

"A group of veterans has sued four public colleges in Missouri, alleging that they have violated the Missouri Returning Heroes’ Education Act, a law that caps tuition at $50 per credit hour for combat veterans who have served since 2001. The cap comes into play once all other federal and state aid is applied to tuition, according to the Columbia Daily Tribune. The veterans, who seek class-action status for the lawsuit, say the benefit should apply to the entire cost of college, not just tuition. The law “damages Missouri combat veterans” because it doesn’t consider the cost of room and board, transportation, books, and other expenses, according to the lawsuit, which challenges the University of Missouri at Columbia, the University of Missouri at St. Louis, Moberly Area Community College, and Southeast Missouri State University. A university official said the four campuses use a procedure recommended by the state’s department of higher education."

Come on Missouri schools - let's take care of Vets

Tuition Assistance - are the cuts coming?

2011-02-21T10:01:00.000-06:00

With all the talk about budget cuts, it is not surprising that many at the CCME conference last week were concerned about what is going to happen to Tuition Assistance. Carolyn Baker told us the facts:

2010 spending on TA: $542 million
2009 spending on TA: $518 million

Now that is only a 4.6% increase in Military Tuition Assistance spending - but in a time where the Congress is trying to cut $100 billion out of the budget, things are tense. The only exception is the Coast Guard (not DoD which is a good thing here) which announced they will not cut TA next year.

There are so many other places that the military could cut and the current high tech military needs a highly educated work force to be effective. Until the budgets are done, all in military education are worried.

Army Accelerates Associates Degree

2011-02-18T10:31:00.000-06:00

The Army is working on retention and training and will ensure that soldiers will receive college credits for Army training and education. This will allow soldiers to receive their associates degree in their first enlistment starting this year!

Following the very successful CCAF program for the Air Force, the Army training and education will be worth up to 45 credits towards an associates degree. Most degree programs require 60 so soldiers will have to work on the final 5 classes - but they will get 75 points towards promotion when they do.

Great news for all soldiers entering the military today and a solid way to recruit and retain more great service members.

VA has 6 ways to max our your ed benefits

2011-02-17T05:28:00.000-06:00

Great blog post over at VAntage Point which is the blog for the Department of Veteran Affairs on 6 ways to maximize your education benefits. Here is a brief run down:

Ask How, What and Where - these are critical questions and need lots of thought. I see too many students wandering around schools, majors and wasting a lot of time and money 'finding' themselves and they only find themselves without a degree

How do you want to study
What are you going to major in
Where will you study

The GI Bill as an Investment - you want it to last and eliminate out of pocket by managing that investment
Anticipate the Unpredictable Job Landscape - and be specific. Healthcare is growing - but only certain professions. Do your research and get a major that will help you transition out of the military
Trust but verify - schools can be aggressive - make sure it is Regional Accredited (not national) - look at ratings, BBB and others to make sure they are legit and going to help you with your goals
Beware of Questionable Research Aids - go to the legit GI Bill site and not all the marketing sites to get the real info
Reintegration is the key - college can be a great method of reintegration but is also a big challenge so make sure you are ready and you have the support you need to succeed

The final thought is to do what is best for you. This is all great advice and you should be careful as you choose the education path that is right for you.

VA suspends universities from GI Bill

2011-02-16T05:49:00.000-06:00

From the wires on eNews Park Forest:
"February 14, 2011. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today asked the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for a list of colleges and universities from which it has suspended or withdrawn GI Bill and education benefits after discovering questionable recruiting practices used by these institutions. In a response to a December 2010 letter from Durbin, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki explained that the VA had taken these measures after compiling information about erroneous, deceptive or misleading practices at these colleges and universities. "

Congrats to the VA for taking charge and protecting Veterans from predatory universities!

Tuition Assistance and New Rules

2011-02-15T07:32:00.000-06:00

The first issue that came to light here at CCME is the new guidelines for Military Tuition Assistance. The rule will require that programs be approved in the state where the student resides. So if an online program from Lamar has a student in Florida, Lamar has to be approved in Florida for Tuition Assistance to pay.

That's fine for the big guys, but Lamar doesn't have the money or the time to apply to every single state - so it might leave only the big guys (like Phoenix which has campuses in most states) to get bigger. Don't think that was the intent of the new rules, so we can only hope that sanity reigns supreme by the summer.

National Salute to Veteran Patients

2011-02-11T10:03:00.000-06:00

This year's National Salute to Veteran Patients will take place February 13-19, 2011. Getting involved is easy! You can find all the information you need to deliver a valentine or get additional volunteer information at VA's Volunteer Service webpage http://www.volunteer.va.gov/. From this site, you can generate an e-mail to your local VA Volunteer Service and find out if they can use valentines or other items.

Snows Causes VA GI Bill Processing DELAYS

2011-02-10T09:24:00.000-06:00

FROM THE VA SITE!! Not good.

Information Related to Delayed Processing of Spring 2011 Enrollments
February 8, 2011 03:00 PM

We would like to make you aware that VA’s offices responsible for processing Education benefits payments have been closed several days during January due to inclement weather. We are working hard to get caught up including working mandatory overtime on Saturdays and Sundays. We expect to have the situation under control within the next week to ten days. We are very concerned about the difficulties this can cause if you have not yet received your February 1 check and we are working hard to get you paid.

Until your February 1 payment is received, we have created a letter you may wish to show creditors. That letter may be found below.

View the letter here.

Severe Winter Weather Causes Claims Processing Delays
February 8, 2011 02:35 PM

Severe winter weather across much of the nation has caused unexpected delays in processing payments for Spring 2011 enrollments. We are implementing many stopgap procedures to bring the workload down, including temporary staff reassignments, mandatory overtime, and tiger teams. Rest assured we are doing our best to get your benefits to you as soon as possible.

Medal of Honor winner to use his GI Bill

2011-02-09T10:34:00.000-06:00

Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta is going back to school with the GI Bill and will leave the Army in June of this year according to MilitaryTimes article. He has handled his fame with "humility and reluctance" and in my humble opinion has done an amazing job. He really does show all that is great about this country and the military.

And now he is going to get his degree using the GI Bill! A perfect next step for someone who has a great future.

VA Education Benefits - improved automation

2011-02-08T10:26:00.000-06:00

The VA announced that it has successfully deployed a new automated system to improve speed and accuracy in processing Veteran's educational benefits under Post 9/11 GI Bill.

From the VA Press Release:

The technology relies upon information from Veterans and specialized rules-based software to streamline the process for calculating Veterans’ benefits.

“The new GI Bill is the first example of VA’s use of an agile approach to software development,” said Roger W. Baker, VA’s assistant secretary for information and technology. “Our success on this project is already being leveraged to ensure the success of other large software projects within VA.”

This is great news for all Veterans using their education benefits and when the new GI Bill 2.0 rules start this summer, it will provide a great education funding system for our military.

CCME - next week

2011-02-07T16:15:00.000-06:00

American University System will be attending our first Council of College and Military Educators conference in Tampa on February 14th. We will have a booth there and look forward to seeing military education speciliasts to help more Service members, Vetereans, spouses and their familiy members reach their education goals.

Come by our booth and say hi!!

Military Spouse Scholarship Program Includes U.S. Coast Guard Spouses

2011-02-01T13:27:00.000-06:00

New England College of Business and Finance (NECB) military spouse scholarship program provides educational opportunities for active duty Coast Guard spouses.

Boston, MA (February 1, 2011) - New England College of Business has announced that they will offer a drastic reduction in tuition on Associate's Degrees in Business Administration for all spouses of U.S. Coast Guard active duty service members. The discount will bring the entire tuition cost of the Associate's Degree to $4,000. The significant reduction in tuition was initially offered to target Department of Defense (DoD) spouses participating in the DoD MyCAA program. This program was targeted to end in January but due to the positive response, it has been extended until May 26, 2011.

NECB is committed to the military community and felt that it was only proper to offer the tuition discount to spouses in all of the armed forces, not simply the military branches of service within the Department of Defense. The Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security. Despite not being able to participate directly in the MyCAA program, NECB hopes this scholarship will attract active duty Coast Guard spouses looking to further their education.

Courses offered through New England College of Business are 100% online, incorporating a state of the art learning technology platform which allows students to learn any time and from any place. With high retention rates and a commitment to quality and affordability, NECB, a Yellow Ribbon and Military Friendly college, is the growing choice for military members and their families stationed around the globe.

Emily Knight, who directs this outreach program for NECB, shared her personal connection to this program. “I grew up the daughter of Navy Master Chief who rode submarines and my spouse is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran. Being a military spouse is a tremendously challenging job. I know first-hand the challenges of long deployments, un-accompanied tours, and the stressful nature of the assignment season. Pursuing or finishing a degree under these circumstances can be a real challenge especially if you relocate frequently. For over 100 years NECB has been educating working adults. Our online format is ideal for the Coast Guard spouse needing flexibility and desiring a business degree. I firmly believe that all military spouses need our support and it's our obligation to help them achieve their education goals."

Active duty Coast Guard spouses (regardless of rank) wishing to apply for their degree through this program can do so online at http://www.necb.edu/mycaa or call 800.997.1673. Students must register and be enrolled by May 26, 2011 and are required to finish their program in 36 months. Submission of a photocopy of your USCG dependent ID card will be required at time of enrollment.

About New England College of Business and Finance

Founded in 1909, New England College of Business and Finance (NECB) is a leading Boston institution offering quality education and online degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. NECB empowers students with skills and expert knowledge taught by seasoned business leaders and research faculty, using state-of-the-art online courses. Serving students across the United States, NECB is an online college accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. Online enrollments in the U.S. are growing at rates far in excess of the total higher education student population, with no signs of slowing, according to a recent national report by the Babson Survey Research Group. For information or to enroll in NECB, visit www.necb.edu or call 1-800-997-1673.

2011 BAH Rate Increase!

2011-01-27T09:27:00.000-06:00

From the VA site on January 20, 2011 10:00 AM

Effective January 1, 2011, DoD adjusted most housing rates. VA’s housing payments under the Post-9/11 GI Bill are based on the E-5 with dependents level for the zip code where you attend school. The DoD rates changed in January, so if your housing rate went up, you will see it in your February payment. Your payments will update to the 2011 rates automatically.

If your housing rate decreased for 2011, you will continue to receive the higher 2010 rate unless you change schools or have more than a 6-month break in school attendance.

You can see the new rates at https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bah.cfm

Military Spouses: Lawmakers order review of education opportunities

2011-01-26T09:43:00.000-06:00

Army Times is reporting that tucked into the 2011 defense authorization bill is a requirement that defense officials conduct an extensive review of military spouse education programs to determine their effectiveness. They also want to know if these programs are helping with retention.

No doubt this is a direct effect from the cries of so many military spouses after the MyCAA debacle - first it was there, then it was not and then it was cut - drastically. All done with poor communication and no apparent input from spouses.

DoD officials have 180 days after the bill is signed by President Obama to conduct their analysis. Now - I tend to be a bit of a cynic when it comes to DoD analysis since it usually proves the point they want to prove - but I will hope for the best and that they determine that helping military spouses get a solid education will lead to better jobs which leads to improved family life which will help our younger service members stay in the military longer.

MyCAA Use Down / GI Bill Changes

2011-01-25T10:59:00.000-06:00

The new MyCAA program is certainly not getting used as much as the old MyCAA – only 18,000 spouses have taken advantage of the program since it re-started in October compared to 136,000 who signed up for the old version. Many spouses are confused about who can take advantage of it and whether it will work for their education goals. Please help get the word out so spouses don’t miss out on this program.

MyCAA NOTE:

• New England College of Business and Finance has an Associate Degree in Business for ALL military spouses with a total tuition cost of $4,000 and less than $100 is fees. http://www.necb.edu/mycaa

• American College of Education has master’s degrees leading to a certificate that qualify for MyCAA (because of the certificate part) and the total tuition for a master’s degree is $6,950: http://www.ace.edu/military

American University System welcomes Texas A&M Commerce to our partner schools. http://degree.tamu-commerce.edu/ They are offering an online Executive MBA with a $5,000 military tuition grant for a total cost of $694 per credit hour. They also offer a BS in Business Administration online for a total cost of just over $15,000.

Florida International University has awarded over $1,000,000 in military scholarships in the last 6 months for their online Corporate MBA - http://cmba.fiu.edu/military - All active duty, veterans and family members qualify for the $10,000 scholarship.

Lamar University has added an online Master of Education in School Counseling – http://degre.lamar.edu/ this online program has a total tuition cost for out of state of $8,460. They also have Bachelor’s of Applied Arts and Sciences, Criminal Justice and General studies – 100% online and with maximum transcript credit for military transcripts.

Over 1,000 Veterans, active duty and spouses have used the Personal Finance Bootcamp from New England College of Business and Finance – this FREE online course helps people take charge of their personal finances – AND they can see if online learning or a business degree is right for them. Spread the word: http://www.necb.edu/MilitaryFinance

American University System partner schools are ALL Regionally Accredited and most are state schools. Come see us at CCME and learn more about how we can help your students. And please include us in your next Education Fair. http://www.auspartnerships.org/military

20% of American Students Not Smart Enough for Military

2011-01-24T09:13:00.000-06:00

A new report from Education Trust say that 1 on 5 high school students cannot score high enough to enlist in the armed forces. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Batter (ASVAB) consist of math and reading section amounting to one score. There are subsections on science and problem solving skills. In our more modern military, these skills are an absolute necessity.

16% of white applicants were ineligible
29% of Hispanic test taker were ineligible
39% of African-American students are ineligible

The military can be the gateway to higher education for many students. But if our schools can't get them ready to even enter the military it is truly a dismal failure and dooms these students to be forever left behind.

Ex-Marine makes amazing Principal

2011-01-21T09:43:00.000-06:00

Great story by Karin Chenoweth from The Education Trust on Huffington Post about an amazing elementary school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. New Mexico schools have been getting hit a little for their low performance but right in the middle of the city is a great story. The big difference in the school is the principal who is a former Marine pilot. One of the great reasons to make sure that Troops to Teachers continues!

From the blog post:

The overall atmosphere of the school is clearly set by the man who has been its principal for the past nine years, Tom Graham. Graham's first career was as a Marine attack-jet fighter pilot. After his 20 years in the military, he decided to go into education, and -- after teaching for a few years -- became a principal.
At the risk of over-stereotyping, there are two kinds of ex-Marines, in my experience: drill-sergeant types, very precise and sometimes a bit overbearing; and unflappable types who exude an amused attitude of there's-not-a-lot-you-can-do-to-me-that-others-haven't-already-tried. Tom Graham falls into the latter category, which means he couples a cheerful awareness of the messiness that surrounds kids' lives with an unwillingness to let that messiness derail an education.

"We keep you safe, make you warm or cool, and give you a meal; then you have to learn," Graham said. "I'm sorry if your mom's in jail, but this is your escape route. You're as good as anybody when you're here."

He has set a very simple expectation, embodied in the school motto: "Do the right thing at the right time." Although easy to memorize, it isn't easy to do -- Graham admits that, even for him, it isn't always easy -- but kids understand it and aspire to it, and so do teachers and staff.

WOW - for all you troops who became teachers and are ready for your leadership role, make sure you take a look at American College of Education programs in Education Leadership.

The result is a school where everyone is learning just about all the time and where children - no matter what their background -- have a fair shot at taking advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead of them.

NECB extends MyCAA Degree Program

2011-01-20T10:10:00.000-06:00

Boston, MA (January 18, 2011) - New England College of Business has announced that they will continue offering a drastic reduction in tuition on Associate's Degrees in Business Administration for all spouses of active duty service members. The discount will bring the entire tuition cost of the Associate's Degree to $4,000. Under the new military spouse scholarship guidelines, MyCAA benefits can cover 100% of the tuition cost.

The original MyCAA program, which provides education funding for spouses of active duty Department of Defense service members, started in 2009 with 136,000 applications and over 98,000 spouses received funding. On October 25, 2010, the ‘new’ MyCAA program began accepting applicants. The new guidelines are much more restrictive, limiting the program to Associate degrees and certificates. The amount of the funding has also been reduced from $6,000 down to $4,000 and limited to spouses of military members who are E1-E5, W1-W2 and O1-O2.

New England College of Business and Finance responded to the new restrictions by offering a program to all spouses that would open the opportunity to earn an Associate’s degree for no out-of-pocket tuition expense. The program was targeted to end in January but due to the positive response and New England College of Business’s commitment to the military community, it has been extended until May 26, 2011. This extension will provide many more spouses time to get their program approved for MyCAA funding.

Courses offered through New England College of Business are 100% online, incorporating a state of the art learning technology platform which allows students to learn any time and from any place. Military spouses are a part of a learning community working on their degrees and forming new connections and friendships. With high retention rates and a commitment to quality and affordability, NECB, a Yellow Ribbon and Military Friendly college, is the growing choice for military members and their families stationed around the globe.

Emily Knight, who directs this outreach program for NECB, shared her personal connection to the education needs of military spouses. "As a child, I watched my mother try to earn her graduate degree while caring for my brother and me during my father’s long deployments on a submarine. Online learning wasn't available and there were no programs to help military families pay for their education. I firmly believe that military spouses need our support and it's our obligation to help them achieve their education goals."

Spouses wishing to apply for their degree through this program can do so online at http://www.necb.edu/mycaa or call 800.997.1673. Students must register and be enrolled by May 26, 2011 and are required to finish their program in 36 months.

Davis-Monthan AFB Education Fair TOMORROW

2011-01-19T14:44:00.000-06:00

The Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Education Fair is tomorrow, January 20th from 1000 to 1400. Don't miss a great chance to find out about great educational programs to help you achieve your education goals.

Our man Matt Dailey will be there to answer all your GI Bill, Air Force Tuition Assistance, MyCAA and Air Force / CCAF transcript review questions.

Take advantage of this great opportunity and we will see you at Davis-Monthan!

Keesler AFB Education Fair TODAY

2011-01-19T08:47:00.000-06:00

If you are stationed at Keesler come on down today for the base education fair from 1000 to 1500 at the base hospital. Should be a great event and the perfect time to learn more about earning your degree through our quality online programs!

Say hi to Tim Arrington - our military expert today.

Take control of your personal finances

2011-01-17T10:57:00.000-06:00

And determine if online learning is right for you as you pursue your business degree. New England College of Business and Finance has a free Financial Literacy Bootcamp - designed to help you take charge of your finances. Go to www.necb.edu/MilitaryFinance.

This is a great program and it is actually FREE. We are not selling anything - we just hope that once you try the finance workshop, you will determine that:

Your really like business and want to make it a career
You really like the online learning platform from NECB
You really like the business classes
So you will eventually enroll in the NECB business degree program

If not, we are just glad we helped you with your financial situation. So give it a try!

National Guard to become part of GoArmyEd

2011-01-12T09:31:00.000-06:00

Must say that I continue to be impressed with the military education machine. GoArmyEd is a pretty great system for Army Tuition Assistance. Guess the National Guard agrees since they will be using it for National Guard Tuition assistance in 2011.

Below is the email I received yesterday announcing the change:

"Effective June 2011, Army Continuing Education Services (ACES) will welcome United States Army National Guard (ARNG) Soldiers as they transition to GoArmyEd, the Army's Virtual Gateway to Education-Anytime, Anywhere.

GoArmyEd currently supports Active Duty and Army Reserve as a one-stop Web site that allows Soldiers, Army Education Counselors, and schools to conduct business for all education needs in a seamless Soldier-centric environment.

Guard Soldiers will be able to register for college courses or on-duty classes and review their student records 24X7. GoArmyEd links directly with schools to allow the Army to pay schools upfront, lifting that burden from Soldiers and ensuring that schools are paid in a timely and efficient manner. GoArmyEd enforces Army tuition assistance (TA) policy via logic throughout the portal, ensuring that registered classes are found on the Soldier's degree plan, that no duplicate courses are taken, and that the Soldier maintains a GPA standard required by the Army to be eligible for TA. GoArmyEd also standardizes services at all Education Centers and supports the Army's mobile Soldier base. Ready access to Soldier information allows counselors to help Soldiers wherever they are deployed.

Key Dates to Remember

4 June 2011-Schools with historical ARNG enrollments set-up in GoArmyEd; ARNG Soldiers begin setting up accounts in GoArmyEd; after completing their account set-ups, ARNG Soldiers will be restricted from requesting TA in GoArmyEd until 1 August 2011.
1 August 2011-ARNG Soldiers begin requesting TA in GoArmyEd for courses that start on or after 1 October 2011. ARNG Soldiers will continue to use the current National Guard system to request courses that start prior to 1 October 2011.
1 October 2011-All ARNG Soldiers and Army education personnel begin using GoArmyEd to manage TA for courses that start on or after 1 October 2011; schools using GoArmyEd receive TA requests, process grades, and submit invoices for courses that start on or after 1 October 2011; the current National Guard system is used only for grade reporting, invoicing, and recoupment processing for courses that started prior to 1 October 2011.

Sincerely,
GoArmyEd"

Will make a little easier for everyone. Nice job National Guard and congrats to the GoArmyEd team for creating a great education portal.

Only 18,000 spouses use 'New MyCAA'

2011-01-11T15:27:00.000-06:00

For those that were around for the disaster that was 'New Coke', 'New MyCAA' seems to have a similar bad taste. The new MyCAA regulations that went into effect in October specifically limited the number of people who could use this program.

During old MyCAA, 136,000 spouses signed up and 98,000 used the program in the first six months
Since new MyCAA started, only 18,000 spouses have signed up.

Now, the total military active duty population is 2.3 million according to the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges and according to Military Spouse magazine, approximately 47% are married which means there are 1.1 million military spouses.

So the New MyCAA is reaching 1.6% of the spouse population. Underwhelming to say the least.

Now part of the problem seems to be that spouses don't know about it. Also, there may not be many schools like New England College of Business and Finance (NECB) offering a special MyCAA program for ALL military spouses. So we need your help - we need to get more spouses taking advantage of these education dollars to increase the earning power of our military families!

Texas A&M Goes Big Online for Military

2011-01-10T09:00:00.000-06:00

Our newest member at American University System is Texas A&M Commerce! American University System partners with colleges and universities to bring their programs online through our state-of-the-art learning management system at significantly reduced costs to the student.

A&M is offering an Executive MBA online with 36 hours at $30,000 - but military members receive an automatic $5,000 scholarship!! They also offer an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration for $13,459.

Two great programs from a great university - now fully online with no residency requirement. We have our people ready to help you with your GI Bill or Tuition Assistance to make sure you can take full advantage of these programs.

Veteran Unemployment Rate - too high

2011-01-07T09:44:00.000-06:00

Marine Corps Times has an article about Veteran unemployment and the rate for young veterans is way too high at 11.8% for men and 10.9% for women. This a full 2 percentage points above the national unemployment rate of 9.8%.

For all Veterans, the unemployment rate is actually only 8.3% which isn't bad in this economy.

We need to help young Veterans get ready to leave the service with a solid education from a reputable schools so that they can get a great job. They have sacrificed so much to defend this country - this country needs to take care of them when they are done.

The new, new Post 9/11 GI Bill

2011-01-06T10:07:00.000-06:00

The VA GI Bill website has all the changes and the dates that they will happen - and had it up the day after the President signed GI Bill 2.0 - here is the VA LINK and the content below:

"The Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 was recently signed into law. This page lists changes to the GI Bill made by this law.

Effective August 1, 2009, but not payable until October 1, 2011

Certain National Guard members mobilized on Title 32 orders on-or-after September 11, 2001 are now eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and any qualifying Title 32 mobilization may be used to increase your percentage of eligibility

Effective August 1, 2011

The Post-9/11 GI Bill will now pay all public school tuition and fees; this includes graduate training, etc.
For students attending private institutions of higher learning or foreign schools, the tuition and fee reimbursement is capped at the lesser of net out-of-pocket cost or $17,500 annually - however the Yellow Ribbon Program still exists
College fund payments will now be paid on a monthly basis instead of a lump-sum at the beginning of the term. Those training at ½ time or less are now eligible for college fund payments
Reimbursement is now available for multiple Licensing and Certification Tests
Reimbursement is now available for fees paid to take national examinations used for admission to an institution of higher learning (e.g. SAT, LSAT, ACT, GMAT, etc)
Vocational Rehabilitation participants may now elect the higher housing allowance offered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill if otherwise eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill
Break or interval pay is no longer payable under any VA education benefit program unless under an Executive Order of the President or due to an emergency situation such as a natural disaster or strike. Entitlement which previously would have been used for break pay will be available for use during a future enrollment. This means that if your semester ends December 15 your housing allowance is paid for the first 15 days of December only. Your benefits will begin again when your new semester begins (e.g. January 15) and you will be paid for the remaining days of that month and term. Students using other VA education programs are included in this change. Monthly benefits will be prorated in the same manner.
NOAA and PHS personnel are now eligible to transfer their entitlement to eligible dependents

Effective October 1, 2011

If you are training at greater than ½ time your housing allowance is now prorated according to the training time you are enrolled in, i.e. full housing allowance for you is $1000, you are attending ¾ time - your housing allowance would be $750 (¾ of $1000)
Housing allowance is now payable to students enrolled solely in distance learning, the housing allowance is ½ the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents (the rate would be $673.50 for 2011)
Non-college degree programs, on-the-job training, and flight training programs are now covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill
The book stipend is now payable to active duty members"

Much more defined now that VA is ready to implement the changes to the program. Some great stuff.

President Signs GI Bill 2.0

2011-01-05T10:20:00.000-06:00

President Obama made it official and signed S. 3447 into law yesterday! This is a huge deal starting in August 2011 for all who serve.

From the IAVA Site:

Raising monthly vocational rehabilitation benefits by nearly $800/month for over 21,000 disabled vets.
Simplifying the confusing tuition cap system and increasing the benefit rate in 45 states increasing the benefit to over 58,000 students
Grants full-time distance learners, a monthly living –allowance, including disabled veterans, single parents who provide at-home childcare, and rural veterans helping over 25,000 students
Authorizes generous New GI Bill vocational training benefits for apprenticeship and on-the-job training.
Approves benefits for students studying at trade schools like a fire academy, truck driving school or a barber college.
Includes full-time service in the National Guard as qualifying service toward New GI Bill eligibility which will help over 85,000 previously excluded National Guardsmen.
Grants active duty servicemembers using their GI Bill benefits an annual book stipend of $1,000/year.
Saves new enlistees to the military $1,200 by not requiring them to sign-up for the old and inadequate GI Bill.
Includes a provision that will protect student veterans from predatory for-profit schools. The New GI Bill changes that and gives the VA the authority to protect veterans from those schools.

Congrats to all Veterans who helped lobby for these great changes and to Congress for bi-partisan support of our military!!

From Subway to Medal of Honor

2011-01-04T10:09:00.000-06:00

If you haven't seen the video interview of SSGT Salvatore Giunta who was recently awarded the Medal of Honor - it is a great reminder of how great our voluntary military really is.

http://devour.com/video/medal-of-honor/

If you made a New Years resolution to be better - here is some inspiration.

National Guard Benefit in GI Bill 2.0

2010-12-20T12:53:00.000-06:00

In the original Post 9/11 GI Bill, National Guard troops serving at home were left out. An amendment in S.3447 changes that and finally provides the GI Bill benefit to National Guard.

According to an article from WDUQ news:
"members who are called up for border security, natural disaster or other domestic duties can receive the G.I. Bill benefits. Altmire says by closing the loophole approximately 130,000 additional National Guardsmen qualify for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill’s benefits."

This is great for all those who serve in the National Guard - the President will sign the bill by the end of the year and it will go into effect in August 2011.

President to sign GI Bill 2.0 today?

2010-12-17T09:37:00.000-06:00

I looked on his schedule but it doesn't show that he is going to sign GI Bill 2.0 into law. Note that the changes do not go into affect until August 2011 - in time for the fall semester for most students. But it will definitely help online students the most. Veterans groups like IAVA advocated for this change in order to increase access to education for wounded Veterans and Veterans working full time.

All Veterans receive the housing allowance
The maximum benefit is $17,000 per year (if you take 15 credits a semester this is about $533 per credit - enough for our MBA Programs!)
Opens it up to National Guard
Gives the VA the authority to shut down for profit 'predatory schools' from receiving VA students

So a pretty good deal. Let's get it signed President Obama and really make this an even better deal for Veterans.

Congress Passes GI Bill Changes - President to sign into law

2010-12-16T15:06:00.000-06:00

IAVA is reporting that the House passed S. 3447 for the new Post 9/11 GI Bill and it will go the President for signature. Huge day for military education benefits. National Guard will finally get to participate, rates will be level across states at $17,500 per year and that ALL full time students get the housing allowance.

HUGE! Levels the playing field in education and let's Veterans choose the program that is right for them.

Thank you Congress!

The GI Bill Bill Passes the Senate!

2010-12-15T09:18:00.001-06:00

GO CONGRESS!! The Post 9/11 GI Bill changes in S. 3447 passed by unanimous consent and could be voted on in the House today! This is great news for all - but especially our online schools.

The big fixes:

All full time students get the housing allowance regardless if you study online of brick and mortar
There is one reimbursement cap - regardless of the state (right now it is over $1,000 per credit hour in Texas and $295 in Florida - how is that right?)

This is a good bill and would have been very easy for Congress to delay - but they are not and it will get done. A big win for all Service members and Veterans!!

Chapter 35: Survivor & Dependent Educational Assistance Program

2010-12-13T13:11:00.000-06:00

The military does try to take care of our own. VA Chapter 35 is one such program. It is the Survivor and Dependent Educational Assistance Program designed to help military spouses and miltiary dependents reach their education goals through GI Bill like scholarships. For our Service members, it is something you shold make sure you spouse knows about.

I have worked with two spouses - one who is going to earn her Masters' in Education and the other a Bachelor's in Business Administration.

From the VA Website:
Dependents' Educational Assistance provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

Eligibility
You must be the son, daughter, or spouse of:

A veteran who died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces.
A veteran who died from any cause while such service-connected disability was in existence.
A servicemember missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force.
A servicemember forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.
A servicemember who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability. This change is effective December 23, 2006.

Period of Eligibility

If you are a son or daughter and wish to receive benefits for attending school or job training, you must be between the ages of 18 and 26. In certain instances, it is possible to begin before age 18 and to continue after age 26. Marriage is not a bar to this benefit. If you are in the Armed Forces, you may not receive this benefit while on active duty. To pursue training after military service, your discharge must not be under dishonorable conditions. VA can extend your period of eligibility by the number of months and days equal to the time spent on active duty. This extension cannot generally go beyond your 31st birthday, there are some exceptions.

If you are a spouse, benefits end 10 years from the date VA finds you eligible or from the date of death of the veteran. If the VA rated the veteran permanently and totally disabled with an effective date of 3 years from discharge a spouse will remain eligible for 20 years from the effective date of the rating. This change is effective October 10, 2008 and no benefits may be paid for any training taken prior to that date.

For surviving spouses (spouses of servicemembers who died on active duty) benefits end 20 years from the date of death.

Please don't hestitate to email us with any questions - here is a VA pamphlet on the Chapter 35 benefit.

GI Bill Fix goes to Senate Floor Today

2010-12-09T09:49:00.000-06:00

Maybe that is why the NY Times published the article below - to kill the changes to the Post 9/11 GI Bill in Senate Bill - S.3447. Here is a recap of the proposed changes

Offering invaluable job training for students studying at vocational schools.
Granting National Guardsmen responding to national disasters full GI Bill credit.
Providing living allowances for veterans in distance learning programs.
Expanding and simplifying the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Including a book stipend for active duty students.

Harry Reid is pushing to get it done. If the Senate passes it could go to a vote in the House next week and get signed by the president this year!

TELL YOUR SENATOR AND CONGRESSMAN TO VOTE YES!

NY Times slams schools serving veterans

2010-12-09T09:15:00.000-06:00

While the premise of the article is that for-profit colleges and universities are ripping off the military in the NY Times article: "Big Profits and Scrutiny for Colleges That Draw Veterans", they do try to provide a little on page three.

Bottom line here:

Online schools provide programs the Veterans and Service members want
Online programs better meet military schedules
State schools don't 'do' online well if at all (exception here)
However: graduation rates in 4 year programs at most online for-profits is not good
2 year graduation rates in for-profits are actually better than public schools

The bottom line is that there is a lot of money out there and like throwing chum in the ocean, it is going to bring some sharks. But there are a lot of good for-profit programs like ours who do things the right way, don't throw all our money at marketing and have to charge double what we should and get reasonable graduation rates.

Hopefully Congress will fix the problem in a way that targets desired metrics and not fixes the blame on all for-profit schools.

VA Urges Early Enrollment Certification

2010-12-08T09:41:00.000-06:00

Not surprising here - the VA wants schools to submit enrollment certifications early so Veterans can get paid. The delay for Vets ran 45 days from some - so if you are in school, make sure your Veteran's Office is getting certifications done now. From the VA:

"Last summer, VA encouraged schools to submit enrollment certifications for the fall semester early to help expedite direct payments to students. To ensure that students receive timely payments, we are encouraging School Certifying Officials (SCOs) to submit enrollment certifications for the Spring 201 1 enrollment periods as soon as possible. This effort will allow VA to manage the increased workload, and minimize delays in processing and paying students' books and supplies stipends, housing allowances, and kicker payments"

We know you need your benefits and will make sure we are certifying early at American University System Schools.

Big week for Military Education Fairs

2010-12-06T10:44:00.000-06:00

Our entire team will be out at military base education fairs this week which is always great!

Scott AFB -December 8th - we will be holding 'office hours' from 0900 - 1500 at the Education Office - please come on by and say hi (or it will be a long day)
Luke AFB Education Fair on December 8th from 1000-1400 at Club Five Six
US Coast Guard Station Miami on December 8th from 1200 - 1500 follow the signs to the Hangar

When you come to the American University System booth, you get information from 8 different schools - most of them state schools and all regionally accredited. So come on by and we can get you the information you need to achieve your education goals.

MyCAA enrollment taking longer

2010-12-03T09:27:00.000-06:00

The volume of military spouses enrolling in the MyCAA $4,000 scholarship program is building. When the program re-launched in October, you could get your program approved and your Financial Assistance approved fairly quickly. Now the FA is taking close to the full 15 days they say it will take.

So if you are planning to enroll in an Associate Degree program or certificate program for January - GET STARTED TODAY!

For our own New England College of Business and Finance Associate of Science Business Administration Degree for Military Spouses with a total tuition cost of $4,000 - it ends in January. So this is your last chance before the price goes back up to $14,000 - not kidding here, you are saving $10,000 by enrolling now.

Please don't miss this opportunity.

Veterans in College: more support needed

2010-12-02T13:17:00.000-06:00

The National Survey of Student Engagement for 2010 is out with special attention on military veterans in the classroom. The survey of 362,000 first year students and seniors attending 564 U.S. Colleges and Universities. Here are the bullets:

Veterans perceive lower levels of campus support than non veterans
Veterans interact less with faculty members
Compared to first year students, combat veterans spent twice as much time working
Compared to first year student combat veterans spent 6 times as much time on dependent care
20% of veterans report having a disability compared to half that of non veterans

Not really surprising. Veterans going back to school will be older and more likely to have families. And with so many Veterans coming back from Iran and Afghanistan, they do need extra support and schools must be prepared for to deal with these great students who have additional challenges in life.

Maybe seeing the numbers will get more schools moving in the right direction.