Our Letter to VA regarding Florida Career College, UEI College, and United Education Institute
We are writing to urge VA and the appropriate State Approving Agencies (SAAs) (copied on this letter) to exercise your oversight authority with respect to three affiliated schools – Florida Career College (FCC), UEI College, and United Education Institution. Specifically, we urge you to reassess the approval status for FCC, in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 3675(b)(4) and 38 U.S.C. § 3696, and to conduct risk-based surveys for UEI College and United Education Institute. (According to the Department of Education, these three institutions are all owned by IEC Corporation (IEC)).
Our Letter to VA Regarding Hussian College
July 19, 2023 Joseph L. Garcia, Executive Director Education Service Veterans Benefits Administration Via email Re: Hussian College Closing Dear Director Garcia, We write to urge the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the appropriate [...]
Our Follow-Up to VA re: Risk-Based Survey SOPs
July 10, 2023 James Ruhlman, Deputy Director Program Management Education Service Veterans Benefits Administration Via email Dear Mr. Ruhlman, In response to concerns we raised about the standard operating procedures for the risk-based surveys as [...]
Our Letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs on the Marine Corps Excess Leave Program
June 21, 2023 Joseph L. Garcia, Executive Director Education Service Veterans Benefits Administration Via email Re: Marine Corps Excess Leave Program Policy Dear Director Garcia, We write to advise the Department of Veterans Affairs that [...]
Our Letter to VA regarding the VETS Credit Act
June 14, 2023 Joseph L. Garcia, Executive Director Education Service Veterans Benefits Administration Via email Re: School closings and GI Bill Restoration information Dear Director Garcia, As you requested in our meeting on May 24, [...]
Letter Reply from VA re: Risk-Based Survey SOPs (June 15, 2023)
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Veterans Benefits Administration Washington, D.C. 20420 June 15, 2023 Carrie Wofford, President Veterans Education Success 1501 K St., Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 Dear Ms. Wofford: Thank you for your letter, [...]
Our Follow-Up to VA re: Risk-Based Survey SOPs
June 1, 2023 Joseph L. Garcia, Executive Director Education Service Veterans Benefits Administration Via email Re: Risk-Based Surveys Dear Director Garcia: Thank you for your response to our previous letter concerning the implementation of risk-based [...]
Our Letter to VA regarding Florida Career College’s Loss of Title IV Approval
April 13, 2023 Betsy Wickham, Bureau Chief State Approving Agency Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs Via email David Salgado, Director Veterans Education Program Texas Veterans Commission Via email Joseph L. Garcia, Executive Director Education Service [...]
Letter Reply from VA re: Risk-Based Survey SOPs (March 16, 2023)
March 16, 2023 Carrie Wofford, President Veterans Education Success 1501 K St., Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 Dear Ms. Wofford: Thank you for your letter, dated March 7, 2023, to the Department of Veterans Affairs [...]
Our Letter to VA re Risk-Based Survey SOPs
March 7, 2023 Joseph L. Garcia, Executive Director Education Service Veteran Benefits Administration Via email Re: Risk-Based Surveys Dear Director Garcia: We thank you and your team at the Education Service for making progress towards [...]
Our Letter to VA Regarding Additional Information about ASA College
February 28, 2023 William Clarke, Veterans Program Manager Bureau of Veterans Education New York State Division of Veterans’ Services Via email Joseph L. Garcia, Executive Director Education Service Veteran Benefits Administration Via email Re: ASA [...]
Our Letter to VA Regarding January 12, 2023 Meeting and Feedback Tool
February 15, 2023 Joseph L. Garcia, Executive Director Education Service Veteran Benefits Administration Via email Re: Our January 12, 2023 Meeting and Feedback Tool Dear Director Garcia, Thank you again for your time and help [...]
Our Letter to VA Regarding Living Arts College Closure
January 10, 2022 Timothy D. Freeman, Executive Director North Carolina State Approving Agency Via email Joseph L. Garcia, Executive Director Education Service Veterans Benefits Administration Via email Re: Living Arts College Closure Dear Mr. Garcia [...]
Our Letter to VA with Additional Information Regarding Bay State College
January 9, 2023, George O’Connor Assistant Commissioner for Academic & Veterans Affairs Department of Higher Education Commonwealth of Massachusetts Via email Joseph L. Garcia, Executive Director Education Service. Veteran Benefits Administration Via email Re: Bay State College Dear Mr. O’Connor and Mr. Garcia...
Our Letter to VA Regarding the 85/15 Rule Federal Register Notice
We write to submit comments on the Department’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the above-referenced 85/15 Rule published in the October 12, 2022 issue of the Federal Register.
Letter to VA Regarding Bay State College
November 21, 2022 George O’Connor, Assistant Commissioner for Academic & Veterans Affairs Department of Higher Education Commonwealth of Massachusetts Via email Joshua Jacobs, Senior Advisor for Policy Performing the Delegable Duties of the Under Secretary [...]
Letter to VA Regarding Florida Career College
November 21, 2022 Betsy Wickham, Bureau Chief State Approving Agency Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs Via email David Salgado, Director Veterans Education Program Texas Veterans Commission Via email Joshua Jacobs, Senior Advisor for Policy Performing [...]
Letter to VA Regarding Full Sail University
November 21, 2022 Betsy Wickham, Bureau Chief State Approving Agency Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs Via email Joshua Jacobs, Senior Advisor for Policy Performing the Delegable Duties of the Under Secretary for Benefits Veterans Benefits [...]
Letter to VA Regarding ASA College
November 21, 2022 William Clarke, Veterans Program Manager Bureau of Veterans Education New York State Division of Veterans’ Services Via email Joshua Jacobs, Senior Advisor for Policy Performing the Delegable Duties of the Under Secretary [...]
Our Testimony to the Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education on Protecting Veterans’ Education Benefits
November 17, 2022 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration Education Service 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 Via electronic submission to [email protected] Re: Advisory Committee on Education Meeting November 29-30, 2022 Dear [...]
Our Letter to Department of Veterans Affairs on the GI Bill Comparison Tool Information for Wheeling University
September 12, 2022 Joe Garcia, Executive Director Education Service Veterans Benefits Administration Department of Veterans Affairs Via electronic mail RE: Wheeling University GI Bill Comparison Tool Dear Mr. Garcia, We are writing in regards to [...]
Our Letter to VA Regarding Eastern Gateway Community College
Ms. Samantha Erickson SAA Director Ohio Department for Veterans Services 77 South High Street, 7th Floor Columbus, OH 43215 via email Mr. Josh Jacobs Acting Under Secretary for Benefits Veterans Benefits Administration 810 Vermont Ave. [...]
Our Letter to Department of Veterans Affairs on the Rutgers Business School Lawsuit Allegations
April 12, 2022 The Honorable Thomas J. Murphy Acting Under Secretary for Benefits U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20571 Re: Rutgers Business School Lawsuit Allegations Dear Under Secretary Murphy, [...]
Our Letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Regarding Substantial Misrepresentations at the University of Arizona Global Campus
April 1, 2022 Thomas J. Murphy Acting Under Secretary for Benefits U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20571 Re: VA Compliance with 38 U.S.C. § 3696 regarding Substantial Misrepresentations at [...]
Our Letter to VA on the Principles of Excellence Complaint Feedback Tool
February 18, 2022 Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 Via electronic submission Re: Principles of Excellence Complaint Feedback Tool, OMB Control No. 2900-0797 Dear [...]
Our Comment on Record Keeping at Flight Schools
January 7, 2022 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education Service 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 Via electronic submission Re: Agency Information Collection Activity: Record Keeping at Flight Schools, 86 FR 61855 Dear Sir [...]
Our Letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs on the SAA Rule, RIN 2900-AQ89
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education Service 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 Via electronic submission Re: State Approving Agency Jurisdiction Rule, RIN 2900-AQ89 Dear Sir or Madam, Thank you for the opportunity to [...]
Our Letter to the VA Advisory Committee on Education
October 18, 2021 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education Service 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 Via electronic submission to [email protected] Re: Advisory Committee on Education Meeting October 19-20 Dear Members of [...]
Our Letter with Executive Order Ideas to Protect Service Members and Veterans in Higher Education
MEMORANDUM TO: The Honorable Susan Rice, Director, Domestic Policy Council The Honorable Thomas J. Murphy, Acting Under Secretary for Benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs The Honorable Gilbert Cisneros, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and [...]
Letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs on Agency Information Collection Activity and the Assurance of Compliance with 85 Percent Enrollment Ratios
September 24, 2021 Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 Submitted via electronic portal Re: Agency Information Collection Activity: Statement of Assurance of Compliance with 85 Percent Enrollment Ratios, 86 FR [...]
Our Public Comment Seeking Changes to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Proposed Rule on Reporting Debts to Credit Reporting Agencies
September 21, 2021 Submitted via electronic portal Jason Hoge Director of Operations Debt Management Center Office of Management, 189 1 Federal Drive Suite 4500 Fort Snelling, MN 55111 Re: RIN 2900-AR20-Threshold for Reporting VA Debts [...]
Memorandum From William Hubbard to Department of Veterans Affairs on Changes to VBA Webpage
MEMORANDUM TO: James Ruhlman, Education Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs FROM: Veterans Education Success DATE: August 17, 2021 RE: Veterans Benefits Administration Webpage: Restoration of Benefits After School Closure or if a School is [...]
Our Letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regarding the Veteran Readiness and Employment Questionnaire
July 14, 2021 Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Ave., NW Washington, DC 20420 Via electronic submission Re: Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Veteran Readiness and Employment Questionnaire, OMB Control No. 2900-0092 Dear [...]
Our Letter to the VA Advisory Committee on Education Regarding June 9-10 Meeting
June 7, 2021 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education Services 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 Via electronic submission to EDUSTAENG.VB[email protected] Re: Advisory Committee on Education Meeting June 9-10 Dear Members of the Advisory [...]
Our Comment on the Computer Matching Agreement between the Department of Education and the Department of Veterans Affairs
We are providing comments on the May 6, 2021, Federal Register Notice (ED-2021-FSA-0005) concerning the re-establishment of the flawed computer matching agreement (CMA) between the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of [...]
Our Letter to President Biden – Ideas for an Executive Order
February 17, 2021 President Joseph R. Biden The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Biden: Thank you for committing to protect veterans, servicemembers, and military families from predatory colleges that deceive them [...]
Our Letter to the VA regarding the Center for Excellence in Higher Education
February 12, 2021 Thomas J. Murphy Acting Under Secretary for Benefits U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20571 Re: VA Compliance with 38 U.S.C. § 3696(a) regarding the Center for [...]
Letter to VA and Louisiana State Approving Agency about US K9 Unlimited
We alerted VA and state authorities about a K9 training school that allegedly mistreated and threatened student veterans, purposefully structured programs to get as much money out of veterans' GI Bill benefits as it could, [...]
Our Letter to the VA Advisory Committee on Education
December 7, 2020 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education Services 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington DC 20420 Via electronic submission to [email protected] Re: Advisory Committee on Education Dear Members of the Advisory Committee, [...]
Coalition letter to the Biden Transition Team regarding for-profit college influence
December 1, 2020 Ted Kaufman 1401 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC 20230 Cathy Russell 1401 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC 20230 Dear Mr. Kaufman and Ms. Russell, As organizations working on behalf of students, veterans, [...]
Comment to VA on Its Employees’ Conflicts of Interest in For-Profit Schools
August 21, 2020 Dr. Paul Lawrence, Undersecretary for Benefits Veterans Benefits Administration Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 Via electronic submission Re: VBA’s Collection of Conflicting Interests Certification for Proprietary [...]
Our Letter to VA and Georgia SAA Regarding House of Prayer Christian Church
In August 2020, we asked the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Georgia State Approving Agency to investigate alleged abuses of the GI Bill program by House of Prayer Christian Church's bible seminaries. To protect [...]
Our Letter to VA and CSAAVE Requesting a Risk-Based Review of Ashford University
July 27, 2020 The Honorable Keith Boylan Deputy Secretary Veterans Services California Department of Veterans Affairs California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education 1227 O Street, Suite 625 Sacramento, CA 95814 Patrick Dworakowski, [...]
Our Comment to VA on the Collection of Reports and Notices from State Approving Agencies
June 22, 2020 Nancy J. Kessinger Veterans Benefits Administration Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C., 20420 Dear Ms. Kessinger: I am writing to provide comments on the Department of Veterans [...]
Our Letter to the VA Advisory Committee on Veterans’ Readjustment
Our letter to the VA Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans June 11, 2020 Department of Veterans Affairs Readjustment Counseling Service (10RCS) 810 Vermont Avenue Washington DC 20420 Via electronic submission to [...]
Comment on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Principles of Excellence Complaint System Intake
June 2, 2020 Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 Via electronic submission Re: Principles of Excellence Complaint System Intake, OMB Control No. 2900-0797 Dear Sir/Madam: [...]
Letter to VA Requesting that it Reevaluate Galvanize, Inc.’s Status as a “Preferred” VET TEC Provider
We submitted a letter to the US Department of Veterans Affairs requesting that it reevaluate Galvanize, Inc.'s status as a "preferred" VET TEC provider and its eligibility for VET TEC funding.
Our Comment on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Collection of Education and Licensing Records
May 11, 2020 Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 Via electronic submission Re: Availability of Education, Licensing, and Certification Records, OMB Control No. 2900-0696 Dear Sir/Madam: Thank [...]
Joint Military & Veteran Service Organization Letter: Praising VA’s Effort to Protect Veterans and Taxpayers from Schools that Mislead Prospective Students
April 9, 2020 The Honorable Robert Wilkie U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20420 Dear Secretary Wilkie: Thank you for enforcing 38 U.S.C. § 3696, which is critical in stopping [...]
Letter to VA Regarding GI Bill Feedback Tool and 38 USC 3696 Compliance
January 21, 2020 Charmain Bogue, Executive Director U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration, Education Service 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20420 Re: 38 U.S.C. § 3696 and University of Phoenix, [...]
Our Letter to VA Regarding Ashford
We submitted a letter to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, providing key information about Ashford University.
36 Veteran and Military Organizations Ask VA for Better Oversight of GI Bill Colleges
A letter from 36 military and veteran organizations to the Secretary of VA, requesting a meeting and his attention to the Inspector General's finding that VA is wasting $2.3 billion in GI Bill to colleges [...]
Our Letter urging VA to follow the law on schools that defraud veterans
After multiple for-profit colleges have been caught defrauding veterans, the VA has still failed to act. We wrote a letter to the VA reminding the agency of its duty to protect veterans.
Veterans and Military Organizations Write VA to Fix Delays in GI Bill Payments
As an IT issue wreaked havoc on GI Bill payments, 15 veteran and military organizations wrote a letter urging VA Secretary Wilkie to find a prompt solution.
42 Ethics, Veterans, Consumer, and Education Leaders Oppose VA’s Revised Ethics Proposal
42 federal ethics experts, national veterans and military service organizations, and consumer protection and education experts urge the US Department of Veterans Affairs to properly implement an anti-corruption ethics law for VA employees taking gifts [...]
21 Veterans and Military Organizations Oppose VA’s Plan to Waive Ethics Laws for For-Profit Colleges
Veterans Education Success led 20 veterans and military organizations in speaking out against VA's plan to waive federal ethics laws for for-profit colleges.
Our Formal Legal Opposition to VA’s Plan to Waive Ethics Laws for For-Profit Colleges
Veterans Education Success (with pro bono help from Mayer Brown LLP's Supreme Court practice) submitted a formal legal opposition to VA's plan to waive federal ethics laws to enable for-profit colleges to give VA employees [...]
VA Employees’ Labor Union Opposes VA Ethics Waiver
Veterans Education Success worked with the VA employees' labor union to oppose VA's plan to allow for-profit colleges to give VA employees gifts, dividends, profits, salaries, wages, and services - in violation of federal ethics [...]
Twenty Three Veterans and Military Organizations Ask VA for Better Oversight of the GI Bill
A letter to Secretary McDonald requesting additional oversight of the GI Bill to protect veterans from predatory colleges. Signed by 23 veteran and military organizations.
Our Letter to VA to Improve Caution Flags
Caution Flags in GI Bill comparison tool help veterans avoid schools that are bad actors but more should be done. DOWNLOAD
Public Comment by Veterans & Military Organizations Providing Suggestions for VA’s Student Complaint Intake System
Comment Tracking Number: 1jx-886m-6hff Public Comments regarding OMB Control No. 2900—NEW (Principles of Excellence Complaint System Intake) Filed Oct. 15, 2013 We applaud and thank VA for its work establishing the veterans’ student complaint system, [...]
Military & Veteran Education Bill of Rights
A Bill of Rights for veterans and service members to rein in harmful practices while promoting educational success