Walter Ochinko

Q: TICAS Updated Gainful Employment Rule Fact Sheet (August 2019)

The Institute for College Access and Success published an updated "What to Know About the Gainful Employment Rule,"which worked to improve quality, lower costs, and save taxpayer money. The Trump Administration rescinded the rule on July 1, 2019, and immediately allowed schools to stop complying.[pdf-embedder url="https://vetsedsuccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/TICAS-Updated-August-2019-GE-Rule-Fact-Sheet.pdf" title="TICAS Updated August 2019 GE Rule Fact Sheet"]

Q: Analysis of the Impact of Closing the 90/10 Loophole

We used a December 2016 Department of Education study to estimate the number of schools that would be affected by including GI Bill and Defense Department tuition and fee payments in the 90 cap on for-profit schools' federal revenue. We then identified those same schools in the GI Bill Comparison Tool database to estimate the number of beneficiaries who were enrolled in 2018, the most current, publicly available, enrollment data for individuals receiving education benefits. [pdf-embedder url="https://vetsedsuccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/VES-analysis-of-Dec.2016-ED-data-on-impact-of-closing-90_10-loophole-v.3.pdf" title="VES analysis of Dec.2016 ED data on impact of closing 90_10 loophole v.3"]

Q: Washington Denies Ashford University's Application to Recruit, Advertise, or Offer Field Placements to Students

On May 3, 2019, the Washington Student Achievement Council notified Ashford University that it is not permitted to engage in any actions that constitute "operating" in Washington, as defined in the state's Degree-Granting Institutions Act. Ashford may not engage in targeted advertising, promoting, publicizing, soliciting, or recruiting for the institution. In addition, it may not offer any future field placements in Washington, which can be part of the course requirements for some degree programs such as social workers. The state based its decision on a number of factors that Ashford is at risk of closure under statute. Ashford has appealed the Council's decision. [pdf-embedder url="https://vetsedsuccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/WSAC-letter-to-Ashford-May-3-2019.pdf" title="WSAC letter to Ashford May 3, 2019"]

Q: The Forgotten Faces of Student Loan Default

The Center for American Progress analyzed Education Department surveys which followed students from 2003 when they enrolled in postsecondary education through 2015. The report highlights five groups of students with disproportionate student loan debt burdens that typical analyses neglect: veterans, first-generation college students, students without a high school diploma, students with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities. [pdf-embedder url="https://vetsedsuccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/CAP-report-Veteran-Default-Rates-1.pdf" title="CAP report--Veteran Default Rates"]

Q: Letter from VA to Sen. Durbin on VA's Authorities with Respect to State Approving Agencies

On September 4, 2015, the Undersecretary for Veterans Affairs for Benefits wrote to Sen. Durbin that the authority for the approval of educational programs that enroll GI Bill beneficiaries was specifically granted to State Approving Agencies (SAA) and that any course that failed to meet any of the approval requirements in statute should be immediately disapproved by the appropriate SAA. VA is prohibited by law from exercising any supervision or control over the activities of the SAAs, except during the annual SAA performance evaluations.[pdf-embedder url="https://vetsedsuccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/va-educational-benefit-program-letter-to-sen.pdf"]

Webinar: Midwest Higher Education Compact: Multi-state Collaborative on Military Credit: Postsecondary Non-Completion Among Veterans: Contributing Factors and Implications
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Webinar: Midwest Higher Education Compact: Multi-state Collaborative on Military Credit: Postsecondary Non-Completion Among Veterans: Contributing Factors and Implications

Walter Ochinko2019-10-10T01:03:57+00:00March 21st, 2019|Categories: Our Op-Eds and Blogs, Quality of Education & Student Outcomes - more news & info|

The Forgotten Faces of Student Loan Default

Walter Ochinko2019-09-18T17:55:06+00:00October 22nd, 2018|Categories: Reports by NGOs|

Letter from VA to Sen. Durbin on VA’s Authorities with Respect to State Approving Agencies

Walter Ochinko2019-10-11T17:40:40+00:00September 4th, 2015|Categories: Other VA Issues|

About Walter Ochinko

Weak Return on Investment at Trade Schools that Enroll GI Bill Beneficiaries

Proposed Short-Term Pell Safeguards Should Be Further Strengthened

Overemphasis on Payment Accuracy Impedes More Effective SAA Oversight of Schools Participating in the GI Bill

VA and SAA Approval and Disapproval Authority Should Be Clarified

TICAS Updated Gainful Employment Rule Fact Sheet (August 2019)

Analysis of the Impact of Closing the 90/10 Loophole

Washington Denies Ashford University’s Application to Recruit, Advertise, or Offer Field Placements to Students

Webinar: Midwest Higher Education Compact: Multi-state Collaborative on Military Credit: Postsecondary Non-Completion Among Veterans: Contributing Factors and Implications

The Forgotten Faces of Student Loan Default

Letter from VA to Sen. Durbin on VA’s Authorities with Respect to State Approving Agencies

Veterans Education Success