President announces in-state tuition for all veterans and family members.

SSG Robert Burns — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 07:16:43 -0500

This should help a lot of folks with college aged kids.

WASHINGTON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - All recent U.S. military veterans and their families will now be offered in-state tuition rates to public colleges and universities throughout the country, the White House said on Wednesday.

Announced in honor of the U.S. federal holiday Veterans Day, which fell on Wednesday, the change is part of President Barack Obama's "steadfast commitment" to military families and aims to make sure veterans can both access and get the most out of higher education, administration officials said.

Officials also announced the launch of a revamped comparison tool to offer veteran-specific admissions statistics, which aims to help applicants better evaluate programs, and a new effort to curb deceptive enrollment tactics used by schools aiming to recruit veterans.

Cecilia Munoz, a top domestic policy adviser to the president, said while Obama is pressing his administration to push these changes forward quickly, he is also calling on Congress to move forward on three pieces of legislation to help improve veterans' education.

"These pieces of legislation will really ensure that veterans have the opportunities and assistance to ... realize the American dream," Munoz told reporters on a conference call.

One bill would heighten standards for schools receiving G.I. Bill funds, while another would help protect G.I. Bill benefits for veterans whose schools close mid-term. A third, just introduced on Tuesday, would increase regulation of for-profit colleges, many of which target veterans.

"What we think this does is ramp up the accountability" of those schools, Munoz said, adding that it ensures "we are requiring a high-quality education for veterans that have served us well." (Reporting by Megan Cassella; Editing by Sandra Maler)

White House Announces In-State Tuition For U.S. Veterans, Families

"These pieces of legislation will really ensure that veterans have the opportunities and assistance to ... realize the American dream."

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Nov 12 at 2015 7:54 AM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 07:54:41 -0500

A few thoughts:
- In state tuition for all veterans and family members is a good thing.
- Not sure what gives the President the authority to make this so.
- 10th Grade civics taught me that the legislative branch makes the laws and the executive branch enforces the laws. This smells a lot like the President making up his own laws (again).
- The only federally run colleges/universities that I am aware of are the service academies which already provide a free education to attendees. All other colleges/universities are private or state run. In the federal system that we have, by what authority does the federal government tell a state government or private organization how they must conduct business? Many people think the federal government is superior to state government and can order states what to do. This is incorrect. Read the Constitution. The federal government has only a few delineated authorities. All other authorities are reserved for the states.

Response by CDR Terry Boles made Nov 12 at 2015 9:29 AM

CDR Terry Boles — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 09:29:17 -0500

Interesting that the federal government can attempt to dictate to state and privately run institutions of higher learning how much tuition they can charge to any segment of the population. My experience has been while on AD in-state tuition is available to the member and their dependents, and it would be great to see in-state tuition for prior service members but nowhere it that a guarantee, and the federal government has no business with their continued over reach into state and private matters. Although I support the concept, I do not support the federal government over reach into affairs that do not concern them; it’s nothing more than another example of federal over reach into our private lives and a feel good moment for POTUS.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2015 9:36 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 09:36:46 -0500

This is proposed legislation, not a law.
The President does not have the authority, nor does Congress, to mandate that a public university set tuition rates in accordance with a federal mandate. This must be done at the state level. In order to do this, the law would have to threaten withholding federal funding in order to compel compliance. Of course, that is not what the President would announce.

Just in case you are unsure, you will see a lot of this kind of proposal in the coming months. They are not serious ideas, they are simply trying to generate election year issues. If the President really thought this was an issue he felt was important, it would have come up sometime in the past six years. Candidate Obama didn't propose this in 2007. President Obama didn't propose this in 2012, either. He had both houses of Congress in 2008-2010 and nary a peep about this issue.
Just saying.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2015 10:57 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 10:57:28 -0500

That is depended on each university .... stop playing "regulator".

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2015 5:02 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 17:02:19 -0500

I like this to a certain extent, but as someone who just applied to medical schools based on cost, it kind of pisses me off timing-wise. I could have applied to about 100 places that weren't options to me financially. I'm still happy with my decisions, and the outcome of this overall, but I have to admit it's frustrating haha.

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Nov 13 at 2015 9:07 PM

CPT Ahmed Faried — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 21:07:18 -0500

Good move on POTUS. I'm still positive it won't appease those who are convinced he hates us.