Veterans Education and the GI Bill
Section 1 Content
Since its founding as an emergency council during World War I, the American Council on Education (ACE) has advocated for policies to ensure that veterans and service members have access to—and the opportunity to succeed in—higher education. The 2008 passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill dramatically expanded these opportunities. In 2022, 800,000 beneficiaries accessed more than $10.5 billion in funding from Veterans Affairs education benefits programs. ACE serves as a valuable resource to federal policymakers in developing and implementing this and other legislation on campuses across the country.
November 26, 2024
Letter to the Senate on Year-end Veterans Legislative Package
On behalf of 14 other higher education associations, ACE wrote to the Senate in support of the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act but with suggestions to clarify language around veterans education.
November 12, 2024
Letter to the VA on 85/15 Data Collection
ACE, on behalf of 11 other higher education associations, wrote to the Department of Veterans Affairs with concerns about proposed changes to 85/15 data collection.
September 11, 2024
ACE Policy Recommendations to 2024 Presidential Candidates
Ahead of the November election, ACE wrote to the presidential candidates’ campaigns with recommendations for key policies to strengthen higher education.
November 7, 2023
Undergraduate Military Learners: Exploring Differences Between Military Learners' Experiences in Higher Education
This brief aims to promote awareness of who undergraduate military learners are and draw attention to what sets service groups apart from one another in order to help these students maximize credentials, increase use of benefits, and improve outcomes.
September 20, 2023
Testimony of Anne Meehan to the House Economic Opportunity Subcommittee on Veterans Education Benefits
Anne Meehan, ACE's assistant vice president of government relations, testified to a House Committee on Veterans' Affairs subcommittee on streamlining the administration of veterans education programs and the use of risk-based surveys.
February 2, 2023
Facts in Hand: Supporting Veterans Through the Post–9/11 GI Bill
Educational benefits are vital for ensuring that veterans can succeed in higher education. In terms of funding and number of beneficiaries, the Post–9/11 GI Bill is the largest of the VA's benefit programs.
December 12, 2022
Comments on Proposed Changes to 85-15 Rule
ACE, on behalf of nine other higher education associations, sent comments to the Department of Veterans Affairs urging the language in the draft rule to be more clear about what types of insitutions are impacted.
December 8, 2022
Letter to VA on Enrollment Management System Transition
ACE and the signed organizations and associations urge the Veterans' Administration to delay the transition to a new enrollment management system for certifying GI bill benefits.
December 1, 2022
Letter to Congress on the Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act
Letter from ACE and other higher education associations to congressional committee leaders, encouraging them to pass the Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act.
July 13, 2022
Testimony of Anne Meehan to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Hearing ]on Pending Legislation
Anne Meehan, ACE's assistant vice president of government relations, testified about the Ensuring the Best Schools for Veterans Act, legislation to address the unintended consequences stemming from the VA's recent 85-15 policy reset.
June 23, 2022
Letter to Congress on Ensuring the Best Schools for Veterans Act
Letter in support of legislation introduced by House and Senate committees on Veterans' Affairs members to address concerns stemming from recent policy changes to the 85-15 rule.
March 15, 2022
Letter to House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on the 85-15 Policy Reset
Letter to the leaders of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee expressing concerns about the VA’s recent 85-15 policy reset and changes in the requirements for the 35 percent exemption.
November 18, 2021
Letter on the REMOTE Act for Veterans
Letter to the House and Senate committees on Veterans' Affairs on the need to make certain changes to the Responsible Education Mitigating Options and Technical Extensions (REMOTE) Act and pass the bill as quickly as possible.
October 28, 2021
Letter on Veterans Benefits COVID Extensions, Technical Corrections Bill
Letter to the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees calling on lawmakers to pass legislation that makes technical corrections to several veterans education benefits laws, extends COVID-19 flexibilities for student veterans, and fixes the roundin...
October 21, 2021
Letter in Support of the Student Veteran COVID-19 Protection Act
Letter to Rep. Mike Bost thanking him for introducing the the Student Veteran COVID-19 Protection Act (H.R. 5509) and urging Congress to pass it quickly.
October 21, 2021
Letter in Support of the REMOTE Act for Veterans Education
Letter to Reps. David J. Trone, Mike Levin, and Mark Takano thanking them for introducing the Responsible Education Mitigating Options and Technical Extensions (REMOTE) Act (H.R. 5545) and urging Congress to pass it quickly.
September 22, 2021
Letter to Congressional VA Committees on Technical Corrections to Veterans Education Benefits Bills
Letter to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees highlighting the unintended consequences of the Isakson Roe and THRIVE Act for veterans and the colleges and universities that serve them.
July 19, 2021
Letter to House Veterans Affairs Committee on Isakson-Roe Implementation
ACE and other higher education associations strongly support the goals of this legislation but several provisions have the potential to create unintended consequences for veterans and the colleges and universities that serve them.
April 19, 2021
Overpayments for GI Bill Tuition and Fees and VA’s Process for Collecting These Debts
Under Section 1019 of the Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, institutions are now responsible for paying back to the VA “any overpayment” of tuition and fees paid directly to the institution on behalf of a veteran.
December 3, 2020
Letter to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs on the Protect the GI Bill Act
Letter to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs regarding the the Protect the GI Bill Act. While ACE supports much of the bill, there are several provisions that could create unintended consequences for veterans and institutions.
December 3, 2020
Letter to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on the Protect the GI Bill Act
Letter to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs regarding the the Protect the GI Bill Act. While ACE supports much of the bill, there are several provisions that could create unintended consequences for veterans and institutions.
October 30, 2024
Build America: Empowering Military Learners for Future Success
ACE has launched Today’s Military Learners, a comprehensive national strategy designed to enhance postsecondary education opportunities for military learners.
September 16, 2024
ACE Calls for Policy Focus on Higher Education in Presidential Campaigns
In an open letter addressed to both presidential candidates, ACE has outlined a comprehensive set of policy recommendations aimed at leveraging U.S. colleges and universities to address the nation’s most pressing challenges.
November 13, 2023
Military Learners Are Diverse, Face Unique Challenges
US military learners have distinct ways of engaging in higher ed, according to ACE’s new brief, which offers insight into who these learners are, how to help increase their use of available benefits, and how to improve their outcomes.
September 22, 2023
ACE’s Anne Meehan Testifies at House VA Subcommittee Hearing, Highlights Concerns with Implementation of Risk-Based Surveys
The House Veterans Affairs’ Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held an oversight hearing Wednesday that examined the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) administration of veterans education benefits and featured testimony from ACE’s Anne Meehan.
March 23, 2023
ACE, Sophia Learning Name Amberlin Dupre and Joel Riley 2022 Students of the Year
Both recipients, driven by a desire to help people overcome challenges, are working toward or have completed a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and are planning to pursue graduate degrees.
February 6, 2023
COVID State of Emergency Ends in May; Federal Pandemic Aid was Key to Supporting Students
The Biden administration announced last week that it will end the COVID-19 national and public health emergencies on May 11.
February 2, 2023
Supporting Veterans Through the Post–9/11 GI Bill
Educational benefits are vital for ensuring that veterans can succeed in higher education. In terms of funding and number of beneficiaries, the Post–9/11 GI Bill is the largest of the VA's benefit programs.
December 13, 2022
VA Delays Enrollment Management System Change
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that the implementation of its new enrollment management system will be delayed from mid-January 2023 to early March.
November 7, 2022
UGA Program Helps Veterans Find Community, Mental Health Treatment
Colleges and universities across the country have instituted programs to help the veterans in their communities overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. In observance of Veterans Day, ACE is highlighting one such initiative.
August 15, 2022
Congress Approves Veterans Legislation Clarifying 85-15 Exemption
Congress has passed the Ensuring the Best Schools for Veterans Act of 2022 (S. 4458), an important piece of legislation that means veterans can continue to enroll in quality higher education programs of their choosing.
July 15, 2022
Senate VA Committee Holds Hearing on Bills to Fine-Tune Laws that Support Veterans
The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs heard testimony June 13 on a range of pending legislation to help veterans, primarily bills to fine-tune and address unintended consequences of laws already on the books.
October 25, 2021
House Bills Would Extend COVID Flexibilities for Veterans Education Benefits, Fine-Tune Other Vets Bills
Two bills to extend COVID-related flexibilities for veterans education benefits and make technical corrections to recent veterans legislation have been introduced in the House.
April 1, 2021
Modernized ACE Military Guide Expands College Credit Opportunities for Military Learners
ACE has launched a modernized Military Guide that will help military-connected students easily find college credit for their military education and training.
March 4, 2021
Institutions Will Soon Have a New Way to Evaluate Military Experience for College Credit
The modernized ACE Military Guide will launch on April 1, 2021. Academic institutions can take advantage of this transformative new decision support tool by signing up for an ACE Military Guide Institution Account.
December 21, 2020
Deadline Extended: Nominate a Student for the ACE Student of the Year Award
ACE is encouraging institutions, mentors, and students themselves, to recognize individuals for the 2020 Student of the Year Award. Nominations from those who know of the accomplishments of a deserving student are now due by Jan. 15.
November 10, 2020
Over a Decade of Serving Student Veterans at Bunker Hill Community College
Over the past decade, the Bunker Hill Community College Veterans Center has worked to ensure a smooth transition to college for student-veterans, active duty military, Guard/Reservists, and their eligible dependents.
November 10, 2020
ACE Member Institutions Adopt Programs to Support Veterans
As we commemorate Veterans Day and those who served, ACE is proud to highlight a selection of our members’ work geared toward helping veterans succeed on their campuses, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Military and Higher Education Group
This group is designed for higher education professionals to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and benefits of military-affiliated learners in Higher Education. Only on ACE Engage—Create your account!
March 27, 2020
JST Stakeholders Forum Session 2
At this interactive feedback session facilitated by ACE, the JST Operations team will provide updates and vet potential changes to the JST.
March 26, 2020
JST Stakeholders Forum Session 1
At this interactive feedback session facilitated by ACE, the JST Operations team will provide updates and vet potential changes to the JST.
March 23, 2020
President Signs Legislation Protecting Veterans GI Bill Benefits During Coronavirus Crisis
Veterans will continue to receive their GI bill benefits in situations where campuses are forced to move courses online due to COVID-19.
Rail Content 1
A History of Service
Serving Those Who Serve Through the GI Bill
ACE has played a key role in responding to the educational needs of military members and veterans, perhaps most significantly by working closely with the federal government on two GI Bills—the original implemented after World War II, and an updated version in the aftermath of 9/11. (Higher Education Today)
Supporting the Dreams of Severely Injured Military Veterans
In 2007, ACE created the Severely Injured Military Veterans: Fulfilling Their Dreams program in response to a request from James Wright, then president of Dartmouth, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to provide academic advising for over 700 severely injured service members. (Higher Education Today)