MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: Ana Cobian (323) 360-1827
[email protected]
VETERANS TO TESTIFY JANUARY 8 ABOUT HOW UNFAIR PRACTICES &
FAILED OVERSIGHT SADDLE GIs WITH DEBT & FUEL THE STUDENT DEBT CRISIS
AS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STEPS UP OVERSIGHT,
VETS CALL ON GOV’T TO TIGHTEN ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
& PROTECT STUDENTS FROM RIP-OFFS
“The system is broken. Now is the time to close the floodgates, end the ripoffs, and start raising education standards.”
WASHINGTON, DC – JAN. 8, 2024- Beginning on Monday, January 8, veterans and military-connected students from Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas who were mistreated or defrauded by poor-quality schools will testify before the US Department of Education — blowing the whistle on lax oversight and widespread abuse as the government prepares to tighten college authorization and accreditation standards.
The veterans will also be available for 1:1 Interviews after testifying.
Their testimony comes as the federal government works to meet a November deadline to crack down on sham and low-quality colleges that take money from US taxpayers and students in exchange for degrees that are too often worthless.
The current accreditation system is notoriously loose — rarely policing the worst-performing colleges, and lacking adequate standards to assess the educational quality of programs that gain eligibility for GI Bill benefits and federal student aid through accreditation.
“Veterans are rightfully furious when they realize that an accredited school–approved by both the Department of Education and the VA– failed to provide a marketable degree or a quality education in return for their hard-earned GI Bill benefits,” said Della Justice, Vice President for Legal Affairs at Veterans Education Success, a national nonprofit that fights for the GI Bill and the rights of veterans to utilize their education benefits.
“Student veterans rely on the government’s system for school oversight, but the system is broken,” added Justice. “We are pleased the Department is undertaking much-needed reform. Now is the time to close the floodgates and improve the standards so that student veterans get the education and outcomes they deserve.”
Veterans Testifying Jan. 8-11, 2024 Available for Interviews: REGISTER HERE to SEE LIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
| 2024 TESTIMONY DATE & TIME | COLLEGE PROGRAM | FIRST NAME | LAST NAME | BRANCH | VETERAN’S TOWN | STATE |
| January 8, 3:30-3:33 pm | Fortis Institute Nashville | Jasmine | Thomas | Military Spouse-Army | Fort Campbell KY and Ardmore OK | Oklahoma |
| January 8, 3:33-3:36 pm | Art Institute | Michael | Nelson | Army | Mansfield | Texas |
| January 8, 3:48-3:51 pm | Ashford University | Angela | McMillen | Navy | Pierce | Colorado |
| January 9, 3:30-3:33 pm | Full Sail University | Adam | Young | Navy | Gilbert | Arizona |
| January 9, 3:42-3:45 pm | American InterContinental University | Sally | Olsen | Marines | Bloomington | Illinois |
| January 9, 3:45-3:48 pm | ITT Tech | Stephanie | Pollay | Air Force | Harleysville | Pennsylvania |
| January 10, 3:33-3:36 pm | University of Phoenix | Jeri | Glenn | Navy | Copperas Cove | Texas |
| January 11, 3:30-3:33 pm | Grand Canyon University | Cynthia | Lawrence | Military Spouse-Army | Fayetteville and Harnett County | North Carolina |
| January 11, 3:39-3:42 pm | Argosy University | Mayso | Porch | Army | Arlington | Texas |
Veterans Are Available for 1:1 Interviews after Testifying; contact Ana Cobian 323.360.1827; [email protected]
VETERANS TO TESTIFY JANUARY 8 ABOUT HOW UNFAIR PRACTICES FAILED OVERSIGHT SADDLE GIs WITH DEBT FUEL THE STUDENT DEBT CRISIS