Information and background on the issue of veterans and military education benefits and career education programs

Q&A on the 90-10 Rule (February 2012). The 90-10 Rule is a federal law barring for-profit colleges from receiving more than 90% of their revenues from Department of Education federal student aid. It is modeled on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ long-standing 85-15 Rule, which prohibits more than 85% of a program’s students from receiving VA funding.

Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Tom Carper (D-DE) held a press conference on September 22, 2011 to unveil new data on which colleges are taking in the most Post-9/11 G.I. Bill education benefits. The Post-9/11 G.I. Bill is providing those who have served our nation since 9/11 the most comprehensive educational benefits since World War II. The Senators, who are all military veterans themselves, are seeking to ensure that those who use the benefits get a quality education.

New Data on Post-9/11 G.I. Bill Benefits and For Profit Colleges (pdf), data updated November 3, 2011

Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security

Hearing: Improving Educational Outcomes for our Military and Veterans, September 22, 2011.

Includes witness list, testimony, a link to the hearing webcast and letters from veterans organizations calling for stronger oversight of the GI Bill.

Letter from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to Senator Patty Murray, Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, expressing concern over “reported rampant exploitation of our veterans and military members eligible for robust education benefits . . . “, August 24, 2011

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions

Full Committee Hearing: Improving For-Profit Higher Education: A Roundtable Discussion of Policy Solutions, July 21, 2011

Includes testimony of Holly Petraeus, Director, Office of Servicemember Affairs, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Washington, DC. Ms. Petraeus’ testimony begins at minute 54 in the webcast.

Senator Tom Harkin floor speech on deceptive marketing to veterans including video and related documents, May 19, 2011

Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security

Hearing: Preventing Abuse of the Military’s Tuition Assistance Program, March 2, 2011

Member Statements, Witness Testimony, and hearing webcast

Government Accountability Office (GAO) report: DOD Education Benefits: Increased Oversight of Tuition Assistance Program is Needed, March 2011

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions report Benefitting Whom? For-Profit Education Companies and the Growth of Military Education Benefits, December 8, 2010.

House Armed Services Committee: Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee

Letter summarizing the findings from its review of Department of Defense Tuition Assistance programs, November 5, 2010

House Armed Services Committee: Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee

Hearing: A Question of Quality and Value: Department of Defense Oversight of Tuition Assistance Used for Distance Learning and For-Profit Colleges, September 22, 2010

Coalition letters signed by veterans organizations calling for strong regulation of career education programs: