Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jeff Howe (R)

Back to profile

Many GI bill students left in limbo

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

To the editor,

Federal sanctions are putting the squeeze on for-profit colleges. Among the students suddenly facing significant obstacles to a diploma are tens of thousands of military veterans taking college courses through the GI Bill.

Just as most schools were beginning classes for the new school year, ITT Education Services Inc. announced it was closing. This drastic action was attributed to U.S. Department of Education sanctions – namely mandating that ITT increase its reserves from $94.4 million to $247.3 million. ITT deemed that burden too large to bear and shut down after around 50 years of service. The state is moving to close Globe University and the Minnesota School of Business as well, and the future of online specialist University of Phoenix is less than certain.

Veterans caught up in school closings are left with the same results: credits earned that may not transfer, limited options for the fall semester and expiring GI Bill eligibility.

There are different factors at play for these for-profit schools and it appears reform with a focus on greater accountability has been in order. But if the government is going to force schools to shut down, should we have addressed the issues and preserved postsecondary options for students especially those using the GI Bill? Why were these schools approved for use of the GI Bill if the government was concerned of the schools operations? Why didn’t the government provide this information to the students when applications were received to use the GI Bill at these institutions? These are just a few of the questions that should be addressed.

Non-military students receive forgiveness of their federal loans if their school ceases operation. Meanwhile, GI students receive no such reprieve; their program eligibility is not extended. Imagine having your school close just months before you are scheduled to earn your degree, your GI eligibility is set to expire around the same time and the only school that may accept your credits could be the next to shutter its operation.

I have reached out to Minnesota congressional members to rectify eligibility issues in the federal GI Bill. We can’t pull the rug out from under students participating in the program. The students have held up their end of the bargain and it is only right they receive the education they were promised when they signed up to serve.

Please contact me at rep.jeff.howe@house.mn and also reach out to our federal congressional delegation if you or someone you know are impacted by this issue so we can work on solutions.

Sincerely,

Rep. Jeff Howe