PROGRAM NOTES 1 Million Now Benefit from Post9/11 GI Bill The Department of Veterans Affairs announced on November 8 that 1 million veterans, servicemembers and family members have benefited from the Post-9/11 GI Bill since the program’s inception in August 2009. The Veterans Benefits Administration, which administers the program, has distributed over $30 billion in the form of tuition and other education-related payments. “This is one of the most important programs helping our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans reach their educational goals and find a good job,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We’re proud this important benefit is making such a big difference in the lives of so many veterans and their families.”
Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
New Restrictions to Army and Marines’ TA The Marine Corps has added a host of restrictions to its tuition assistance program, limiting the number of Marines eligible for subsidized college courses. Applicants will no longer be considered for tuition assistance funds if they are in their first two years of service, are ineligible for promotion or if they have yet to complete certain military training courses, according to Marine officials. Another restriction taking effect is that first-time applicants are being limited to one course, unless the servicemember has an associate degree or 60 academic credits and a minimum grade point average of 2.5, according to a copy of the instruction. Funds will not be approved for new courses prior to the completion of old ones, nor for courses that count toward duplicate degrees, such as a second associate degree or a double major. Requests for funds can now be submitted only within 30 days of the start date of a class. The Army announced that effective January 1, new restrictions will be placed on TA to ensure officers and enlisted personnel are focusing more on soldiering than higher education. Soldiers will have to wait one year after completing initial-entry training before they can participate in the TA program. Also, soldiers who use TA money to complete a four-year baccalaureate degree will have to wait 10 years before using TA again to pursue a post-graduate degree. Soldiers who have earned a BA degree without using TA do not need to wait 10 years to use TA for a post-baccalaureate degree. Soldiers who have been flagged for adverse action or failure of the Army physical fitness test or weight standards will not be able to use TA. The changes will likely affect approximately 40,000 soldiers.
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Bill beneficiary. Ferraro served in the Army from 2003-2013 and deployed to Iraq in 2008 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Arcadia University announced the appointment of Lorna Stern, MALD, as vice president and executive director of the College of Global Studies.
as vice president of military and veterans affairs for the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities, which is the for-profit sector’s primary trade group.
Dawn Bilodeau
Dawn Bilodeau is currently serving as the acting chief for Department of Defense Voluntary Education, replacing Carolyn Baker, who retired in October. VA announced that Steven Ferraro, who is currently attending Middlesex County College in Edison, N.J., has been identified as the 1 millionth Post-9/11 GI
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William Duffy II
William R. Duffy II, Ed.D., Ed. S., was inaugurated as Upper Iowa University’s 21st president. Duffy replaces Alan G. Walker, who decided not to return to UIU following a sabbatical.
Michael Dakduk
Michael Dakduk has left his executive director position at the Student Veterans of America, and has been replaced by D. Wayne Robinson. Dakduk has taken over
Capt. Ted Digges
Captain Ted Digges SC, USN (Ret.), has been hired as the director of The American College Penn Mutual Center for Veteran’s Affairs.
The Culinary Institute of America has a new member of its admissions staff dedicated to assisting veterans in planning for their postmilitary careers. Eric Jenkins has been named a veterans counselor. Cynthia Bioteau, former president of Salt Lake Community College, has been named president of Florida State College at Jacksonville. Diana J. Mason, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, was recently elected president of the American Academy of Nursing, after serving as president-elect for two years.
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