New York State Veterans Tuition Awards Program, Tuition Assistance Program, and Federal “Post-9/11” Processing Issues

Recently, New York State and federal programs have been enhanced to offer improved higher educational opportunities and benefits for eligible veterans. In some cases, these programs offer overlapping and duplicative tuition benefits. This bulletin clarifies a school’s responsibilities for the proper handling of these funds so that New York State’s veterans will receive all available assistance in a timely and efficient manner.

New York State Veterans Tuition Awards

The New York State Veterans Tuition Awards Program (VTA) provides awards to eligible veterans matriculated at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution or in an approved vocational training program in New York State. VTA has grown significantly over the past few years. In 2008, VTA was amended to expand the number of eligible veterans, as well as to increase the amount of the maximum award. Awards are available for up to the full cost of undergraduate tuition for New York State residents at the State University of New York or actual tuition charged, whichever is less. (Note: the 2009-10 State Budget requires that each award be reduced by two percent for the 2009-10 academic year).

Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008

The “Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008” (Program) is a federal program that, beginning August 1, 2009, will provide funds specifically for tuition, fees and other educationally-related costs for eligible veterans. Under the Program, schools must certify the total amount of tuition and the total amount of fees charged to a student. The certified amount reported to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) should not be reduced for pending or subsequent payments to be credited to the student’s account from a State scholarship, grant, award or any Title IV funds.

The Program also establishes the “Yellow Ribbon G.I. Educational Enhancement Program” (Yellow Ribbon), in which private colleges and universities can voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to provide matching funds to cover all or a portion of any remaining charges for tuition and fees, prior to application of a State scholarship, grant or award.

Application of the Federal and State Programs

The Program, in combination with VTA and the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), will reduce the overall cost of tuition to veterans.

In some instances, the Program will provide certain eligible students with full tuition benefits and a cost of attendance allowance while attending college. In others, State programs will provide gap funding for eligible veterans after the various Program tuition benefits are applied. In such instances, eligible veterans attending a New York State college or university could receive both a Program award toward tuition and potential award(s) under VTA and/or TAP, to the extent there is any remaining tuition balance.

In general, the combined tuition benefits available to a student cannot exceed the student’s total tuition costs. Tuition payments received by a veteran under the Program and Yellow Ribbon component will be considered duplicative of any VTA and/or TAP award the veteran student may have received. Veterans receiving Program benefits will have their federal awards applied towards any State VTA and/or TAP payment.

All students who are eligible for the VTA will have that award listed on their records at HESC and will receive the benefit of the tuition payment. Payment for those awards will be sent to colleges on behalf of the student, consistent with current practice.

A school must report the amount of a Program and any Yellow Ribbon award to HESC in the certification process. If a federal award is received after the state award has been made, the college will refund to HESC any amount in excess of the tuition charges.

Later this summer, HESC will add specific instructions to the “Policy and Procedures Manual” and to “TAP Coach.”

HESC is Committed to Veterans’ Education Benefits

HESC continues to monitor the federal government’s implementation of the Program and has partnered with the New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs to ensure that New York’s veterans are able to maximize the impact of their eligibility for these programs and take advantage of the various educational benefits available.

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