1. U.S. VETERAN
AFFAIRS BENEFITS
FOR EDUCATION ABROAD PROGRAMS
NAFSA 2015 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Holly Henning ★ Carolina Robinson ★ Jason Sellars
2. PRESENTERS:
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
Education Abroad
Carolina Robinson, Director
Holly Henning, Education Abroad Advisor
Office of Veteran and Military Affairs
Jason Sellars, Assistant Director
3. AUDIENCE POLL
Do you know where your Veterans Affair
representative is housed on your campus?
(i.e., VA Office, Financial Aid, Student Affairs, other)
Are you aware of the federal resources available
to the military and veteran population?
Are you aware of the benefits that can be used by
a veteran or the dependent of a veteran?
4. WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THIS?
Post 9/11 GI Bill specifically…
Since 2009, VA has provided
educational benefits to over
1 million Veterans and family
members, amounting to more than
$45.5 billion. (NAVPA 2014)
Nearly 1 million eligible
individuals participated in 2011,
a 15 % increase over FY 2010
and a 71 % increase over FY
2009.
~ 1,800 universities
Yellow Ribbon Program
Universities provide additional
funds without additional
charges to GI Entitlement
5. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Identify eligible recipients of federal veteran educational
benefits
Differentiate between the types of study abroad programs
that are eligible for VA funding
Propose a partnership/collaboration between the study
abroad and veteran’s affairs office on campus
Show areas where further clarification has been provided
and where it is still needed.
6. THE VETERAN STUDENT PROFILE
Non-traditional student
Usually older than the general
student population
Travelled and/or lived
internationally
Have a cultural perspective
May be multi-lingual
May include veteran’s dependent
Protected by Presidential
Executive Order from deceptive
recruiting strategies"
Photo Cred: DSST
7. HOW MAY THESE BENEFITS BE USED FOR STUDY
ABROAD?
Chapter 33 or “Post 9/11”
Covers tuition and fees while abroad
(at the 40% - 100% level)
Provides monthly cost-of-living
stipend while abroad
Provides one time book allowance
stipend while abroad
VA tuition benefit is sent to the
institution, housing stipend is sent to
the student.
People who served after 9/11 and/or
their dependents
8. HOW MAY THESE BENEFITS BE USED FOR STUDY
ABROAD?
Chapter 35
Covers tuition and academic fees
while abroad
(based on enrollment hours)
Provides monthly cost-of-living
stipend while abroad
Money from VA is sent to the
student, not the institution
Dependents of 100% disabled veterans
9. COMPLIANCE AND TYPES OF PROGRAMS
Based on VA compliance regulations and guidance, here are the
types of study abroad programs that the VA can help pay for and
requirements for each:
1) Exchange
2) Direct Enroll
3) Faculty-Led
4) Third Party providers
10. EXCHANGE
Travel costs and insurance can’t be
included
To find out VA approved programs at
foreign institutions, visit link:
http://inquiry.vba.va.gov/weamspub/buil
dSearchCountryCriteria.do
There is an approval process for
programs that are not listed
(through Buffalo Processing Office in NY State)
VA $$ towards tuition and
academic fees
Must be approved program
SCO does certification
(institution awarding degree)
Monthly allowance based on
home institution zip code
Home Institution Foreign Institution
Important Notes
11. DIRECT ENROLL
Travel costs and insurance can’t be
included
VA $$ towards tuition and
academic fees
Must be approved program
SCO does certification
(institution awarding degree)
Monthly allowance based on
foreign institution location
Home Institution
Foreign Institution
Important Note
12. FACULTY-LED
Travel costs and insurance can’t be
included
Typically billed as if the student were
attending the home institution
Transient student FAQ’s
Eligible student may be certified
as “transient” student at
institution running the faculty led
program.
VA $$ towards tuition and
academic fees
SCO does certification
(institution awarding degree)
Monthly allowance based on
home institution zip code
Home Institution Important Notes
13. THIRD PARTY PROVIDER
Funds from G.I. Bill may not be used to pay third party
providers or their costs, regardless of how the funds are
routed.
WHY?
1. VA approved programs have to be degree granting
institution (IHL) or Non College Degree (NCD) schools
(HVAC, truck driving, etc.).
2. Third party entities are not degree granting institutions,
and as such cannot be approved by the VA
3. VA benefits can only be used on VA approved institutions.
14. THIRD PARTY PAYMENT MODELS Non - Compliant
HOME3rdPP
Home institution charges student
insurance and study abroad fee
(course place holder fee)
SCO does certification
Student pays home institution for
bill
3rdPP charges student
all program fees
Student pays 3rdPP for
bill
VA Benefits
Funds from G.I. Bill may NOT be used to pay third
party providers or their program costs.
15. THIRD PARTY PAYMENT MODELS Non - Compliant
HOME3rdPP
Home institution charges student
all program costs
SCO does certification
Student pays home institution for
bill
3rdPP bills all program
costs to home institution
VA Benefits
Funds from G.I. Bill may NOT be used to pay third
party providers or their program costs, no matter
how they are routed!
16. THIRD PARTY PAYMENT MODELS Compliant !!!
FOREIGN3rdPP
Foreign institution charges
student tuition and academic fees
SCO does certification
VA money goes to the foreign
institution.
3rdPP charges student non-
academic fees
Student pays
(using non-VA funds) for
non-academic fees.
VA Benefits
HOME
Personal Funds
Funds from G.I. Bill ARE NOT used to pay third
party providers or their program costs!
17. UA WORKFLOW MODEL
There must be a partnership with good communication between the
VA Office and Study Abroad.
Students may contact either office to begin the process.
Forms
Course Equivalency
Form
Budget Sheets
Departments
Registrar
Colleges
Student Receivables
School Certifying Officer Education Abroad
Record of Compliance
Dates of Actual Enrollment
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Discover VA eligibility
Choosing study abroad
program
Communicate host institution
Insurance
Financial aid/scholarships
18. AREAS OF FURTHER CLARIFICATION NEEDED
The VA has encompassed all study abroad and foreign
study under one umbrella that does not account for the
individual differences.
Terminology used by the parties involved do not always align,
creating areas of confusion.
The classification of third party programs to the VA vs. the
classification of third party programs in higher education.
Current official regulations need to be revised to include
greater clarification in consideration of study abroad.
19. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA… SIMPLY
Who’s doing the
teaching/training?
Follow the money!
