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Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow
Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans
Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows
institutions of higher learning (degree granting
institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into
an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed
the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The
institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and
VA will match the same amount as the institution.
Post 9/11 GI Core Benefit
The Post 9/11 GI Bill is
designed to cover the cost of the most expensive public
undergraduate tuition and fee for veterans serving 36 months
active duty after September 11, 2001. Please refer to the
website of the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more about
eligibility and benefits.
Full benefits are available
only to veterans (or qualified dependents of veterans) who
have served at least 36 months served since September 10,
2001. Veterans who have served for as little as 90 days
qualify for a reduced benefit equal to 40 percent of the
maximum benefit. Disabled veterans with at least 30 days
service are eligible for the full benefit. Veterans who were
dishonorably discharged are not eligible for the benefit.
Tuition and fees are paid
directly to the institution of higher education; the book
and housing allowances are paid directly to the veteran.
The Yellow Ribbon Supplement
(Institutional Support)
In
2008, the GI Bill was updated with enactment of the
Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008,
giving veterans with active duty service on, or after,
September 11 2001, enhanced educational benefits that cover
more educational expenses, provide a living allowance, money
for books and the ability to transfer unused educational
benefits to spouses or children. The Yellow Ribbon GI
Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a
provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This program allows
institutions of higher learning (degree granting
institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into
an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed
the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The
institution can contribute up to 50 percent of those
expenses and VA will match the same amount as the
institution.
The Institution of Higher
Learning (IHL) must agree to:
-
Provide contributions to eligible individuals who apply
for the Yellow Ribbon Program on a first-come
first-served basis, regardless of the rate at which the
individual is pursuing training in any given academic
year;
-
Provide contributions during the current academic year
and all subsequent academic years in which the student
maintains satisfactory progress, conduct, and
attendance;
-
Make contributions toward the program on behalf of the
individual in the form of a grant, scholarship, etc;
-
State the dollar amount that will be contributed for
each participant during the academic year;
-
State the maximum number of individuals for whom
contributions will be made in any given academic year.
More information about the Yellow Ribbon Program is
available on the US Department of Veterans Affairs website
at:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Yellow_ribbon.htm
Student Application
Policy/Procedures for the Yellow Ribbon Program:
1) Students should determine eligibility for the Yellow
Ribbon Program on the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, Yellow Ribbon Program
Information
website.
2) Students should apply, if they are eligible, for
education benefits under the
Post-9/11 GI Bill with the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
3) Students should apply for and receive confirmation of
admission to Pomona.
Students should be sure to make an informed decision concerning their
choice of
Post-9/11 GI Bill. It is our understanding that there are
typically more than one
educational benefit choices for individuals with military
experience. It is also our
understanding that once selected, benefit choices are
irrevocable. For information
on benefits, visit the
Department of Veterans Affairs website.
4) Eligible students, after receiving an offer admission
from Pomona College, should
fill out the
Request for Participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program
form and, if
available, attach their Certificate of Eligibility.
Pomona processes the Request for
Participation forms on a first-come, first-served
basis. Students may scan and
e-mail, or fax this form to the Financial Aid Office.
5)
Eligible students must complete the Step 4 (above) and
submit confirmation of
their eligibility for the Yellow Ribbon Program to the
Financial Aid Office as soon
as possible. Confirmation of eligibility may be in the
form of a U.S. Department of
Veteran Services Certificate of Eligibility for the
Post 9/11 GI Bill. Failure to submit
this confirmation in a timely manner will result in the
student's removal from the
Yellow Ribbon Program participation list.
Under this
commitment, Pomona will:
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Provide tuition assistance to veterans beyond what they
are provided from their base GI Bill rate of
compensation. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
will match Pomona’s contribution dollar-for-dollar up to
50% of the difference between the student’s tuition
benefit and the total cost of tuition and fees.
-
Enable up to 5 Yellow Ribbon Program-qualified veterans
to receive benefits for the 2009-2010 academic year.
Yellow Ribbon qualified undergraduates
will receive:
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Up to $15,000 per year per student from Pomona, not to
exceed the cost of tuition. Aid from Pomona will be
determined by demonstrated financial need through the
normal financial aid application process.
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