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Schools Encouraged to Join VA's Yellow Ribbon Program
Colleges and Universities Must Sign Agreements before May 23

WASHINGTON (March 10, 2011) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki is encouraging interested colleges and universities to join the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in participating in the Post-9/11 GI
Bill Yellow Ribbon Program for the upcoming 2011-2012 academic year. 

"Through shared responsibility, VA and our Nation's colleges and
universities are working together to ensure that our Servicemembers,
Veterans and dependents receive the education benefits they have
earned," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.  "I
strongly encourage any interested school to formally sign up with us
before the May 23 deadline to guarantee their participation."

Interested schools should visit VA's Web site for more information at
http://gibill.va.gov/school-certifying-officials/yellow-ribbon-agreement
/, where they will find a copy of a letter recently sent to all school
presidents and department heads, an agreement form, instructions, and an
easy-to-follow checklist. 

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill that
allows degree-granting institutions to voluntarily enter into a formal
agreement with VA to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed either
the annual $17,500 private institutions cap recently instituted by
Congress or the in-state tuition and fees charged out-of-state residents
attending public institutions.

The institution can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses and VA
will match this additional funding for eligible students.  This may
enable qualified students to attend school tuition-free.

This Post-9/11 GI Bill program is available for Servicemembers and
Veterans at the 100 percent benefit level, specifically those who have
served at least 36 months on active duty or served at least 30
continuous days and were discharged due to a service-related injury
after Sept. 11, 2001.  The benefit can be transferred to eligible family
members.

Effective Aug. 1, 2011, under a new law passed by Congress, there is a
cap on the maximum payment of tuition and fees at $17,500 per academic
year for private and foreign schools, a change from the previous
Post-9/11 GI Bill.  The law also provides for full payment of in-state
tuition and fees (undergraduate, graduate or doctoral) at public
institutions. 

The institutions of higher learning (IHL) requesting participation in
the Yellow Ribbon Program must enter into an agreement with VA each
year, whether to renew participation from the previous academic year or
enter first year agreements. 

For the 2010-2011 academic year, VA signed more than 1,200 Yellow Ribbon
agreements with IHLs across the nation.  For a complete listing of the
schools presently participating, go to
www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/YRP/YRP_List.htm.

Additional information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill, including upcoming
changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on recent legislation can be
obtained by visiting VA's Web site at www.gibill.va.gov
<http://www.gibill.va.gov/>  and
www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/Post911_changes.html or by
calling 1-888-GIBILL-1 (or 1-888-442-4551). 

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