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Veteran's Journal: Assembly Provides College Aid for Guard Members and Families

Providence Journal

The most recent session of the Rhode Island General Assembly has passed two pieces of legislation of interest to veterans and their families, according to the legislative press bureau.

Senate bill S0001 provides tuition waivers for course work at the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island for spouses and family members of Rhode Island National Guard members killed in the line of duty.

The bill provides free tuition at the state schools provided the student enters the institution between the ages of 16 and 21 and for no more than four years. The act was made retroactive to June 1, 2003.

The number of state college or university courses National Guard members can take for free during a single semester will increase from three to five, according to House bill H5135A and Senate bill S399A.

Introduced by Sen. Maryellen Goodwin, D-Providence, the bill states that any person who is an active member of the Rhode Island National Guard in good standing and who is eligible to attend any state college or university will be eligible for tuition assistance amounting to five courses per semester, an increase from the previously allowed three courses.

Guard members must agree to a contractual enlistment commitment, which provides for one year of obligated service for each 12 credits. Reimbursement of course funds must be made in the event of course withdrawal or failure, departure from the National Guard or failure to make up an incomplete grade within 120 days after the course ends.

National music troupe to visit VA Hospital

"Dancin' in the Streets," a live show sponsored by Re-Creation USA Inc., will appear at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Providence on Aug. 9, at 2 p.m., bringing a walk-through presentation to hospitalized veterans and their guests.

The Re-Creation USA group provides a national program of live entertainment for America's hospitalized veterans in VA medical centers and state veterans' homes.

Founded in 1976, Re-Creation USA performs in all 50 states, including appearances at some of the nation's most prestigious fairs and festivals and at major resort areas. Sponsoring the Re-Creation USA visit are the BVL Fund, the Bowlers of America charity for hospitalized veterans, Help Hospitalized Veterans, and the Elks National Veterans Service.

For more information, phone Henry Rea, the Providence VA hospital's recreation assistant, at (401) 273-7100, ext. 3384.

Program gives veterans a jump-start for college Thanks to the Veterans Upward Bound Program, veterans do not have to let rusty academic skills keep them from getting a degree. Veterans Upward Bound is a free U.S. Department of Education program designed to help veterans refresh their academic skills and give them confidence they need to successfully complete their choice of college degree programs.

To be eligible for VUB you must: 1) Be a military veteran with 181 or more days active duty service and discharged on/after Jan. 31, 1955, under conditions other than dishonorable; 2) meet the criteria for low-income according to guidelines published annually by the U.S. Department of Education, and/or a first-generation potential college graduate; 3) demonstrate academic need for Veterans Upward Bound; and 4) meet other local eligibility criteria as noted in the local VUB project's approved grant proposal.

Although there is no local VUB contact office in Rhode Island, more information is available online at www.veteransupwardbound.org/ vetub.html#Some.

Many schools offer free information packets that they will mail to you. You can request information from multiple schools at once by filling out a form at www.military.com/Education/Lead1 at no cost or obligation.

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