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Veterans Benefits Administration

Education Service

The GI Bill® Supporting International Education

Disclaimer: Intended for IEC participants only and not for distribution. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs The absence of the registration symbol ® does not constitute a waiver of VA's trademark rights in that phrase.

Mr. Barrett Y. Bogue

Team Leader, GI Bill Public Relations U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

• Mission • Trainees and Dollars • Claims Processing • Resources for Veterans • Program Approval • Distance Learning/Hybrid Courses • Electronic Funds Transfer • Certifying Official Responsibilities • VA Form 22-1999 (Enrollment Certification)

• VA Form 22-1999b (Notice of Change in Student Status)

• Questions

Agenda

Office of Economic Opportunity

Strategic Goal #1: Promote employment opportunities for Veterans Strategic Goal #2: Enhance opportunities for Veterans to obtain knowledge and skills Strategic Goal #3: Provide opportunities for Veterans to obtain, retain and adapt a home Strategic Goal #4: Enable effective transition for Servicemembers

“Helping Veterans Attain Personal and Economic Success”

Mission Statement • To provide ready access to and timely and accurate delivery of

education benefits to Servicemembers, Veterans and their families

Stakeholders • Stakeholders and clients of the programs administered by

Education Service include Veterans, Servicemembers, reservists, dependents of certain Veterans, educational institutions, training establishments, State Approving Agencies (SAA), Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), and other Federal and private sector partners

Mission and Stakeholders

Foreign Trainees/Dollars Paid

• 10,140 = Post-9/11 GI Bill students who attended a foreign institution from FY14 to FY15.

• $97M = Dollars paid under the Post-9/11 GI Bill to schools and students attending a foreign institution in FY14 – FY15.

FY 2011 – FY 2015 Trainees/Dollars Paid

Benefit Education Programs FY 11 Trainees Dollars Paid

FY 12 Trainees Dollars Paid

FY 13 Trainees Dollars Paid

FY 14 Trainees

Dollars Paid

FY 15 Trainees Dollars Paid

Chapter 30

Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)-AD 185,220 / $1.4B 118,549 / $932M 99,755 / $775M

77,389 / $512M

61,403 / $442.2M

Chapter 32

Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)

112 / $1.3M 76 / $682K 29 / $496K

8 / $359K

4 / $35K

*Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill 555,329 / $7.7B 646,302 / $8.5B 754,229 / $10.2B

790,408 / $10.8B

790,507 / $11.2B

Chapter 35

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

90,657 / $463M 87,707 / $455M 89,160 / $483M

90,789 / $514M

91,755 / $493.2M

Chapter 1606

Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

65,216 / $201M 60,393 / $157M 62,656 / $156M

63,745/ $150M

63,030 / $141.1M

Chapter 1607

Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

27,302 / $95M 19,774 / $77M 17, 297 / $70M

13,784/ $56M

9,965 / $40.5M

Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)

N/A 12,251 / $6.1M 67,918 / $428M

52,288 / $413M

N/A

Total 923,836 / $9.8B 945,052 / $10.1B 1,091,044 / $12.1B

1,088,411 / $12.4B

1,016,664 / $12.3B

As of June 8, 2016, VA issued $64 billion in Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit payments to 1,588,213 individuals since program inception (August 2009).

Note: Dollars may not add due to rounding

Claims Processing Highlights

Claims Processed

Original Supplemental

February 2016 27,112 349,936

March 2016 32,196 289,227

April 2016 27, 395 251, 037

Claims Inventory FY13 FY14 FY15

FYTD through

April 2016

Claims Processed 4.5M 4.3M 4.2M 2.3M

Original Claims Timeliness (Average Days to Complete) 26.2 16.7 18.4 17.2

Supplemental Claims Timeliness (Average Days to Complete) 9.7 5.9 7.0 6.8

Payment Accuracy 98.7% 98.7% 99.4% 99.2%

*Data represents all EDU claims

Assisting Veterans in Making Informed Decisions

• The GI Bill website has free resources to assist Veterans and beneficiaries in making informed decisions when choosing a school to use their hard-earned GI Bill benefits. These are:

• Career Scopeâ Online • Choosing the Right School • GI Billâ Comparison Tool • GI Billâ Feedback System

CareerScopeâ Online

On August 2013 VA

launched CareerScopeâ

Online, an assessment of

interest and aptitude at no

cost to all eligible benefit

recipients.

http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/careerscope.asp

Comparison Tool was launched on February 4, 2014, in response to Executive Order 13607 to implement and promote “Principles of Excellence.” As of May 30, 2016, it had over 2,975,335 unique page views to over 1 million users.

Recently added functionality: On November 11, 2015, VA released a complete redesign of the Comparison Tool featuring: § School profile page § Student outcome measures § Enhanced search and print functionality § Mobile/tablet compatibility The Comparison Tool is updated to include the use of a caution flags: § Settlement with U.S. Government - EDMC § Heightened cash monitoring § Accreditation probation § DoD probation for military tuition assistance § FTC suit- DeVry Institute § Department of Education notice of intent- DeVry Institute § Flight Programs – Suspended for 85/15 violation

GI Billâ Comparison Tool

Future releases will include: § School Ratings § Enhanced Data Service § More Caution Flag Information § School Certifying Official Contact Information § Detailed Accreditation Information § Major/Program type

https://www.vets.gov/gi-bill-comparison-tool

GI Billâ Comparison Tool (cont.)

• On January 30, 2014, VA launched the Feedback System to intake student complaints concerning non-compliant POE schools

• Total complaints as of April 30, 2016: 6,086 Of these:

– POE complaints: 3,984 (65%) • Pending: 70 • Active: 242

– Non-POE complaints: 2,102 (35%) • Risk-based reviews conducted as of April 30, 2016: 116

– 8 withdrawals

• GI Bill Feedback System Observations: – Communication ̶ Issues between school staff and students – Financial issues – Timeliness of certification submission – Transfer of credits – General lack of understanding by students – Refund issues – Administration with multiple types of financial aid (Title

IV & VA)

GI Billâ Feedback System

GI Billâ Feedback System (cont.)

Complaints by Issue (April 2016) Post-Graduation Job Opportunities 442

Release of Transcripts 307

Transfer of Credits 567

Student Loans 742

Change of Program 414

Grade Policy 378

Accreditation 608

Recruiting/Marketing Practices 728

Refund Issues 626

Quality of Education 1144

Other 1079

Financial Issues (e.g. Tuition/Fee Charges) 2164 0 1000 2000 3000

Financial Issues (Tuition/Fee)27%

Other 23%

Quality of Education 11%

Refund Issues 8%

Recruiting/Marketing Practices6%

Accreditation 5%

Grade Policy 4%

Change of Program 4%

Student Loans 4%

Transfer of Credits 3%

Release of Transcripts 3%

Post Graduation JobOpportunities 2%

Monthly Trend by Issue

Apr-16

Mar-16

Feb-16

Jan-16

Dec-15

Nov-15

Oct-15

Program must be comparable to a Degree in the United States

•Comparability Guidelines:

– Graduate or Undergraduate – Length of Program – General Education Courses

Program Approval

Program Approval

Reporting Requirements Question: Will the institution give appropriate credit for previous education and training of VA students, shorten the training period proportionately, and reflect the credit granted on the enrollment certifications? Answer: Must be answered Yes. The school must agree to evaluate any prior training and award credit for any course that may be considered as equivalent to a course in the current program curriculum. The school doesn’t have to grant prior credit, however, the school must agree to evaluate any prior training.

Program Approval

Program Approval

Reporting Requirements Question: Will the institution, if and when requested by VA, make all appropriate records pertaining to the enrollment of VA students available for examination by VA or its representatives? Answer: Must be answered Yes. If your country has a privacy policy that prevents the school from providing this information without the student’s permission, have the student sign a waiver granting permission before submitting the program approval request.

Program Approval

Program Approval

Accreditation

Distance learning is only approved for a course at a school located outside the United States if the course is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Link: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg5.html#NationallyRecognized

Distance Learning

Program Approval

Post-9/11 GI Bill

The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) sends a tuition and fee payment directly to the school on behalf of a Veteran or beneficiary. The payment may be in the form of a paper check or electronic fund transfer.

Other VA Benefit Programs All other benefit programs Education Service administers sends a monthly stipend to the Veteran or beneficiary and it their responsibility to pay the tuition and fees to the school.

Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT)

Program Approval

Eligibility • School must have an account with a U.S. Financial

Institution and have a Tax Identification Number (TIN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT)

Program Approval

If school has an account with a U.S. Financial Institution, send on school letterhead the following information:

– Name of School – Address of School – U.S. Tax ID number – Facility Code – Name of Financial Institution – Address of Financial Institution – 9 Digit Routing Number – Account Number – Type of Account (Checking or Savings)

Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT)

Eligibility • If Foreign School does not have an account with a U.S.

Financial Institution, tuition and fee payments will be sent by Paper Check.

Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT)

• Submit a VA Form 22-1999 for each trainee • Maintain Records supporting the enrollment • Maintain Records for 3 years after the student

is no longer enrolled • Make Records available for a Compliance

Survey • Submit a VA Form 22-1999b for any changes

during an enrollment period

Certifying Official Responsibilities

Financial Aid and the GI Bill

For periods of enrollment beginning on or after August 1, 2011, you should report the following charges: • The actual net cost for in-state tuition and fees assessed by

the institution for the program of education after the application of any waiver of, or reduction in, tuition and fees; and

• Any scholarship, or other Federal, State, institutional or employer-based aid or assistance (excluding loans and title IV funds) that is provided directly to the institution and specifically designated for the sole purpose of defraying tuition and fees.

Financial Aid and the GI Bill Example: Student gross in-state charges = $4,000 (Veteran Discount -$400) (Tuition Scholarship -$2,000) Title IV (ex. Pell Grant) * $2,500 General Scholarship* $1,000 Net In-State Charges = $1,600 * Denotes to exclude calculating net cost

• Aid or assistance that is designated for the sole purpose of reducing a student’s

tuition and fee cost should be deducted from the net in-state charges reported to VA. • In the above example the student also has a $1,000 scholarship from a local Veterans

Service Organization. • The scholarship is general in nature and may be used to defray school costs such as

food, housing, books, etc. • Since it’s not “specifically designated for the sole purpose of defraying tuition and fees,”

it is not deducted from the charges submitted to VA.

• Itemize Term Dates (Month/Day/Year) format • Itemize Credit Hours • Convert into Credit Hours • Classroom Hours/Week = Credit Hours • Indicate How many Credit Hours is Full-Time for

the enrollment period • Report Tuition and Fees in your country’s form of

currency • Indicate the Tuition and Fees is in your country’s

form of currency in the Remarks field

VA Form 22-1999

• Fees

• Fees are mandatory charges (other than tuition, room and board) applied by the school for pursuit of an approved program of education.

• Fees are defined in the school’s catalog or supplement and listed on the school’s billing statement or invoice.

VA Form 22-1999

• Report Any Changes in an Enrollment • Reductions/Increases/Withdrawals • Unsatisfactory Progress • Graduation

VA Form 22-1999b

Send any VA Form 22-1999 or 22-1999b to the VA’s Claims Processing Team as follows: Fax: 716-857-3274 or Mail: Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office PO Box 4616 Buffalo, NY 14240

Where to Send Forms

http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/school_training_resources.asp *School Official's Handbook *VA-ONCE quick reference user guide *Online school official training *Education benefit presentations

http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/foreign_program_approval_information_for_schools.asp * Foreign Program Approval Information http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/index.asp

*GI Bill Comparison Tool *GI Bill Feedback System

Helpful Links Helpful Links

Helpful Links

http://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/Trademark_Terms_of_Use.asp *Trademark Terms of Use https://gibill.custhelp.com/app/utils/login_form/redirect/ask *Submit a Question/Internet Inquiry System *See School Certifying Officials Handbook (pg 14) for details

Helpful Links

Please send any approval/certification questions to your ELR at: Foreign-Schools.VBABUF@VA.GOV Certification Questions can be made to: 716-857-3196 *Available 8:00am – 5:00pm (Eastern Standard Time) *This resource is for School Certifying Officials only Veteran inquiries can be made to: 1-888-442-4551 FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/gibillEducation

Contact Information

Contact Information