We advocate for student veterans before VA
VA’s Obligation to Stop Colleges’ Deceptive Recruiting
We have pushed VA for years to stop colleges’ deceptive recruiting. We helped bring to VA’s attention a Vietnam-era statute, 38 USC 3696, that requires VA to cut off GI Bill funding to schools that engage in deceptive recruiting. We continue to prod VA to comply with the law, including engaging Congressional pressure on VA.
GI Bill Reinstatement for Students Whose School Closed
The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 allows VA to restore entitlement to beneficiaries affected by school closure or disapproval (if the disapproval was due to a change in law or VA interpretation of statute).
National GI Bill Delays
We worked to ensure that GI Bill delays were addressed immediately, and has fought to make sure the VA makes back payments on all missed payments.
VA Proposes to Waive Ethics Rule for VA Employees
When the Department of Veterans Affairs announced a rule to waive federal ethics rules to legalize bribery of VA employees, we alerted and worked closely with ethics experts, and our military, veteran and education allies to organize opposition efforts to force VA to reverse its decision.
OUR LETTERS TO VA
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 College Dear Director Garcia and Mr. Clarke, When ASA College’s accreditation was withdrawn we sent [...]
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 on the GI Bill Feedback Tool. At your suggestion, we are providing notes from our [...]
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 and Mr. Freeman, We would like to draw your attention to the sudden closure of [...]
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 for Benefits Veterans Benefits Administration Via email Re: Bay State College Dear Mr. O’Connor and [...]
VA REPORTS & PRESS RELEASES
VA’s Minority Veterans Report: Military Service History and VA Benefit Utilization Statistics
US Department of Veterans Affairs report: "Minority Veterans Report: Military Service History and VA Benefit Utilization Statistics" (March 2017) https://www.va.gov/vetdata/docs/SpecialReports/Minority_Veterans_Report.pdf
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Economic Communities Initiative Pilot: 2016 Report & Highlights
In January 2015, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published the 2015 Veteran Economic Opportunity Report to provide data on indicators of the possible success of ongoing initiatives and barriers to economic competitiveness for Veterans. In addition to providing demographic information about the Veteran population, the report included data [...]
MORE NEWS & INFO
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 [email protected] Re: Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans Dear Members of the Advisory [...]
Veterans Education Success Thanks Congress for Passing Important COVID-19 Fix for GI Bill and other VA-Funded Students
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tanya Ang, Vice President, (202) 838-5050 March 19, 2020 Congress Clears Important COVID-19 Fix for GI Bill and other VA-Funded Students WASHINGTON, DC: This morning, Congress cleared an important COVID-19 fix for GI Bill and other VA-funded students. Specifically, with the coronavirus causing many colleges to [...]
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, Career Education Corporation, and Ashford University Dear Charmain, We are writing to bring information [...]
California backs down from threat to fight VA for GI Bill oversight
California backed down from a fight with the Department of Veterans Affairs over a decision that restricts the state’s power to regulate for-profit colleges enrolling students with GI Bill benefits. California had used its authority in the past to sanction colleges with shaky finances and to investigate complaints from veterans [...]
Congress Should Consider Authorizing VA to Require Letters of Credit from Schools in order to Mitigate Risks to Veterans and Taxpayers
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) lacks the authority to require letters of credit (LOC) from schools eligible to enroll GI Bill beneficiaries. In contrast, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) can require schools to submit LOCs if they are deemed to pose risks to Title IV student financial [...]
Sacramento Bee: Veterans Affairs Moves to Strip California’s Power in Fight Over For-Profit Schools
“It’s hard to argue that the VA has the interests of veterans and taxpayers at heart when it allows things like Thomas Jefferson. Why would they rescind these actions?” said Walter Ochinko, research director for the advocacy group Veterans Education Success. Read the full story at the Sacramento Bee, "Veterans [...]
