Grantham University Announces that Changes to Post-9/11 GI Bill Will Impact Online Students

Jan. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- Kansas City, Mo. – Grantham University and its students are pleased that President Obama has signed the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 into law. Since the launch of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill in August 2009, many have been calling for modifications to the original bill that would correct some oversights and allow for a broader access to education for all eligible service members and veterans.  These new changes will have a big impact for service members and veterans who are eligible for the education benefits, especially those who are attending school online at institutions like Grantham University.

Up until now, service members and veterans who attended a solely online college or online university were not eligible to receive the housing allowance benefit, a stipulation that many deemed unfair.  Under the new provisions, online students are now eligible to receive one half of the national average of the program’s housing allowance, which will be $673.50 for 2011.  

“Ensuring that service members and veterans have access to affordable higher education is one of our top priorities at the University,” said Dr. Fredrick Snow, president of Grantham University. “The recent changes to the GI Bill, combined with our Veterans Scholarship program, will further ease the financial stress that some of our students face, especially those who are trying to meet the needs of a family, work full-time, and pursue a college degree.”

Other Post-9/11 GI Bill changes include:

• Paying for on-the-job training, some flight training; apprenticeship training and correspondence courses
• Allowing reservists and Guardsmen to have their time supporting emergencies called by their state governors credited to the time needed to qualify for educational benefits
• Pro-rating the housing allowance to exclude payments when students are not in class;
• Allowing students on active duty receive the stipend for books and supplies
• Allowing people eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, but participating in VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) benefits to choose between the GI Bill's housing allowance or VR&E's subsistence allowance
• Permitting reimbursement for more than one "license and certification" test
• Reimbursing fees to take national admission tests, such as SAT, ACT, GMAT and LSAT
• Establishing a national cap of $17,500 annually for tuition and fees in a private or a foreign school, not including contributions by educational institutions under the "Yellow Ribbon" program

The new provisions outlined in the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 will go into effect at some point in 2011.  To view more detailed information about these provisions and the dates they’ll be implemented, visit: http://www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/post-911-gi-bill-summar....

Since the start of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill in August of 2009, the VA has provided almost $7.2 billion in tuition, housing, and stipends for more than 425,000 service members, veterans or eligible family members pursuing higher education.

To learn more about Grantham University’s online degrees and its Veterans Scholarship program, visit: http://www.grantham.edu.

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About Grantham University:
Established in 1951, Grantham University specializes in online education for the working adult student. The University prepares graduates for careers in business, engineering technology, computer science, criminal justice, healthcare, nursing, information technology and other professional fields. Grantham University offers a military scholarship program for active duty, reserve, guard, veterans and military family members, as well as scholarships for law enforcement professionals. Grantham's courses are 100% online, allowing students to study at home, at work, on Temporary Duty (TDY) or from almost anywhere in the world. Accredited since 1961 by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council, Grantham University has compiled a distinguished record as a respected and accredited distance learning university spanning six decades of service to education. For more information, visit www.grantham.edu or call 1-800-955-2527.