|
Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon Program Agreement is now available for Higher Education Executives. The deadline for submission of the Agreement has been extended to June 15, 2009.
|
VA has developed a number of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help schools learn more about the Yellow Ribbon Program
Cover Letter for Yellow Ribbon Program Agreement
Yellow Ribbon Program Agreement
VA's Office of Resource Management will be sending a letter to Higher Education Executives on or about April 24, 2009. The letter explains how schools will receive and identify payments from VA and discusses avoiding debts, and refunding money.
Click here to view the letter
The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution.
- Provide contributions to eligible individuals who apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program on a first-come first-served basis, regardless of the rate at which the individual is pursuing training in any given academic year;
- Provide contributions during the current academic year and all subsequent academic years in which the student maintains satisfactory progress, conduct, and attendance;
- Make contributions toward the program on behalf of the individual in the form of a grant, scholarship, etc.;
- State the dollar amount that will be contributed for each participant during the academic year;
- State the maximum number of individuals for whom contributions will be made in any given academic year.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays up to the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition. The student’s tuition and fees may exceed that amount if they are attending a private institution, graduate school or attending in a out-of-state status. If they are enrolled at a Yellow Ribbon participating institution and the tuition and fees exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition, additional funds may be available for their education program without an additional charge to their entitlement.
Institutions that voluntarily enter into a Yellow Ribbon Agreement with VA choose the amount of tuition and fees that will be contriuted. VA will match that amount and issue payment directly to the institution.
Only individuals entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements) may receive this funding. Therefore, they may be eligible if:
- They served an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months;
- They were honorably discharged from active duty for a service connected disability and they served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001;
- They 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.
They must be enrolled in an approved program offered by an IHL. Students may search for approved programs HERE. Students may search for institutions that are participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program on June 1, 2009.
Benefits are payable for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009. No payments can be made under this program for training pursued before that date.
Example:
Question: What portion of tuition and fees charges will be considered under the Yellow Ribbon Program?
Answer: The difference of the amount charged to the student and what has been paid by VA as educational assistance.
The following steps are provided to determine the difference for one student:
Step 1: Student’s enrolled credit hours reported by the institution to the VA x Max Credit Hour Charge for the State = Maximum Tuition Payable
Step 2: Compare the Maximum Tuition Payable with the amount charged the student and VA will pay the institution the lesser amount
Step 3: Compare the Maximum Single Term Fees for your State with what you have charged the student. VA will pay the institution the lesser amount.
Step 4: Add what VA has paid for tuition and fees and compare with total amount charged to the student. Institution charges that exceed what as already been paid by VA are the difference that could be applied to the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Step 5: Determine how much of the difference, up to one-half of that amount, that the institution will agree to cover with funds of the institution and the VA will match that amount.
Example: The student enrolled in 12 credit hours during the Fall term and your institution charged the student $5,000 for tuition and $1,200 in fees. The Maximum Per Credit Hour for the State = $250 and Maximum Fees for a single term = $1,000:
Steps 1 and 2: 12 credit hours x $250 = $3,000 - VA will pay $3,000 of the $5,000 tuition charged
Step 3: VA will pay $1,000 of the $1,200 fees charged
Step 4: VA has paid $4,000 of the $6,200 charged the student. $2,200 could be applied to the Yellow Ribbon Program
Step 5: Your institution can choose to contribute up to $1,100 of this amount and VA will match that contribution.
PLEASE NOTE: The amounts provided by the States on the corresponding table are not for the academic year 2009-2010. Also, the amounts used in the above examples do not relate to any specific State.
Letter from VA Secretary James Peake explaining the Yellow Ribbon Program
Letter from Director, VA Education Service containing participation survey
|
RSS Feeds