Looking for 2013 Tuition Assistance Cancellation info? See URGENT Tuition Assistance Update.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced changes to the current military Tuition Assistance (TA) program that will protect troops and ensure that TA classes are offering quality educational opportunities. Effective 1 January 2012, all schools that participate in Title 10 assistance programs will have to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the DoD. This memorandum will replace the tuition assistance agreements previously negotiated with the individual services, providing uniformity in policies and procedures for all services.
Under the new agreement, the schools must agree to maintain a uniform tuition rate for all military students.. They must also be accredited by an agency recognized by the Department of Education and follow the policies established by the Servicemembers' Opportunity Colleges. An important feature of the agreement is that it describes ways that the schools must work with students to minimize the duplication of coursework, maximize acceptance of transfer credits, maintain a maximum standard of required in-residence courses and ensure acceptance of military experience credit and alternate competency testing programs.
Many schools pursue military students because they have access to TA and GI bill funds, and some of those schools are more interested in getting payment than helping students accomplish their educational goals in an efficient and effective manner. The DoD has been looking at ways to address these concerns and this new requirement for schools is the result of these efforts.
The full release can be found at the Defense.gov website: DOD Sets Rules for Schools Receiving Tuition Assistance.
