The eLearners News Blog : Military

New Jersey Universities Preparing for Surge of Veterans Enrolling Due to New G.I. Bill

AndriaL — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:23:00 GMT

According to this article from NJ.com, New Jersey colleges and universities are expecting a large influx of veterans enrolling in response to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which "significantly increases the amount of money offered for tuition and expenses than the previous [iteration of the G.I.Bill]."

In response to the expected increase, New Jersey developed the Troops-to-College program, which was passed in the spring of 2009 and currently awaiting Governor Corzine's signature. Troops-to-College will provide "one-stop-shopping" with resources to help ease the transition from soldier to student. These resources aid housing, finance, medical, and psychological issues. Other NJ initiatives include on-campus student groups and a state-wide conference.

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To read more about the new Post-9/11 GI Bill and how it compares to the Montgomery GI Bill, visit this page on eLearners.com, then check out our extensive Guide to Education Benefits for Military Service Members.

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New GI Bill Benefits Vary State by State

AndriaL — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:49:00 GMT

New GI Bill Benefits Will Vary...a Lot

Some time ago, we wrote about the new education benefits coming to members of the military in August by way of a revamped GI Bill. According to this article on MSNBC, this GI Bill upgrade will allocate more money for military members going back to school, but benefits will vary widely state-to-state such that you might get a full-ride in New Hampshire, but only $2,200 per year for a Massachusetts school.

The article states, "...depending on where service members and veterans decide to attend college, they could receive a full ride, or very little." Sounds like the great news here is your benefit doesn't seem to depend where you live or where you're from — it's where you choose to go to school. Luckily, distance learning gives you the freedom to attend a school across the country if you're so inclined.

Thanks to eLearning, you should be set even if you're in California, which is offering zero dollars to veterans.

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V.A. is Now Accepting Online Applications for G.I. Bill Benefits

Liz — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:27:00 GMT

Attention all military members: It’s May, and that means V.A. is now accepting online applications for New G.I. Bill benefits. If you’ve served 90 days or more of active duty following September 11, 2001, you qualify for some portion of this education funding. Get your application in early, and get your fall tuition covered! For more information, or to complete your online application, go to: http://www.gibill.va.gov/

You can also speak to a Veterans’ Benefits Counselor at 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).

Has anyone already submitted their G.I. Bill application? We want to hear about your experience! What are you planning to study? What school are you going to? Was the process easy or confusing? Thanks for sharing – and more importantly, for serving our country!

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Changes to the G.I. Bill

Liz — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:00:00 GMT

This June brought some good news to our nation's returning troops. Military service members are soon to benefit from the recent passage of the 21^st Century GI Bill; the actual dispersal of funds is slated for August 2009.

Under the terms of this new, higher education bill, military members who served at least ninety days on active duty since September 10, 2001 are eligible for varying percentages of enhanced financial aid. Veterans and service members may receive up to 100 percent tuition coverage — amounts commensurate with tuition costs of the most expensive public colleges in their respective states, including stipends for books and housing costs. This legislation greatly surpasses aid offerings that were provided through the Montgomery Bill, which previously outlined veterans' educational benefits, and will remain in place (along with state-specific plans) for those who haven't served within the past eight years.

The 21^st Century bill was sponsored by Virginia senator, Jim Webb, and many people are comparing it to the post-World War II GI Bill, or Servicemen's Readjustment Act, drafted by William Atherton in 1944. That measure, in terms of delivering home ownership and higher education opportunities, was highly instrumental in the development of our country's middle class. Men who might never have afforded homes in the suburbs, or education and training, were granted loans and scholarships. In this same way, it is hoped that Webb's bill will extend today's servicemen and women any educational opportunities they elect to pursue. The multi-billion dollar program is still just a fraction of the country's war budget, and even less comparable to the kinds of sacrifices being made by the veterans themselves.

In contrast to what was available sixty years ago, many of today's veterans are using their benefits packages towards online degree programs. In fact, according to a recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, six of the top ten schools where veterans apply benefits are (primarily) online institutions. Convenience and quality are two factors driving the trend. And it's not hard to see why.

Overall, veterans and service members are older than "traditional" college students, who pursue higher education immediately after high school. A majority of active duty personnel are over the age of twenty-four. Further, a survey produced by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense estimates that roughly 50 percent of enlisted military members are married. With households to maintain, and bills to consider, most veterans can't assume the "typical college life" — with fulltime course loads and daily campus commutes — once they return from duty.

Online universities like the University of Phoenix and American InterContinental University — veterans' top two choices for online education — offer flexible scheduling and the option to study from home. In explaining their choices, veterans are also citing the quality and the breadth of the offerings at online schools. Online programs can reach any student, anywhere, opening new possibilities for those who might not live within range of campus study in their chosen field. What's more, some online programs will grant academic credits for experiences gained during military service. With more and more veterans enrolling, online colleges are increasing their support and recognition of veteran students, facilitating the enrollment and matriculation processes.

Of course some veterans may opt to use these new education benefits towards traditional or non-profit schools. And some may even decide to transfer their benefits on to a spouse or a dependent — as the new bill allows them to do. Regardless of individuals' choices, the overall measure is certainly a welcome and well-deserved extension of national gratitude.

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