Kent
07-18-2008, 12:24 AM
Ohio offers in-state tuition to all GI Bill users
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland signed an executive order July 8 that established The Ohio GI Promise, which changes Ohio's residence requirements to allow all veterans of the U.S. military, their spouses, and dependents who choose to attend Ohio colleges and universities, to do so at in-state tuition rates.
"Ohio's GI Promise is possible because of the renewed commitment to the GI Bill from Congress," Strickland told The American Legion Online Update. "In the same spirit of that renewed commitment, veterans from across this great country are welcome to attend any of our University System of Ohio schools at the same in-state tuition rate as Ohio residents."
Because the new GI Bill, known as the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, completely covers in-state tuition for public universities, the governor's action means that veterans can attend colleges in Ohio for free after they have been accepted.
The Ohio program comes on the heels of legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush on June 30. The new GI Bill essentially doubles college benefits for eligible troops and veterans, and allows veterans to transfer those benefits to spouses and children.
Strickland said Ohioans "recognize and celebrate the sacrifices that all veterans have made in serving this country. We believe that these veterans and their families should have the greatest possible access to the benefits that they have earned."
Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut said veterans "bring maturity, motivation and leadership" to the classroom. "They are precisely the kind of students Ohio needs in its colleges and universities."
The Ohio Board of Regents will work with the American Council on Education (ACE) to certify all Ohio colleges and universities as "Servicemember Opportunity Colleges," allowing all college credit received during military service approved by ACE to transfer to any University System of Ohio institution.
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland signed an executive order July 8 that established The Ohio GI Promise, which changes Ohio's residence requirements to allow all veterans of the U.S. military, their spouses, and dependents who choose to attend Ohio colleges and universities, to do so at in-state tuition rates.
"Ohio's GI Promise is possible because of the renewed commitment to the GI Bill from Congress," Strickland told The American Legion Online Update. "In the same spirit of that renewed commitment, veterans from across this great country are welcome to attend any of our University System of Ohio schools at the same in-state tuition rate as Ohio residents."
Because the new GI Bill, known as the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, completely covers in-state tuition for public universities, the governor's action means that veterans can attend colleges in Ohio for free after they have been accepted.
The Ohio program comes on the heels of legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush on June 30. The new GI Bill essentially doubles college benefits for eligible troops and veterans, and allows veterans to transfer those benefits to spouses and children.
Strickland said Ohioans "recognize and celebrate the sacrifices that all veterans have made in serving this country. We believe that these veterans and their families should have the greatest possible access to the benefits that they have earned."
Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut said veterans "bring maturity, motivation and leadership" to the classroom. "They are precisely the kind of students Ohio needs in its colleges and universities."
The Ohio Board of Regents will work with the American Council on Education (ACE) to certify all Ohio colleges and universities as "Servicemember Opportunity Colleges," allowing all college credit received during military service approved by ACE to transfer to any University System of Ohio institution.