New G.I. Bill: Veterans Studying Online Ineligible for Housing Benefit
Thursday January 29, 2009
The new G.I. Bill, which will be implemented this summer, provides a housing stipend for traditional students. But, it doesn't give online learners the same benefit.
Inside Higher Ed. reports:
If a full-time student is learning through the internet, shouldn't he deserve the same benefits as a student learning in a classroom? Why should a veteran be punished, and possibly have to take on an additional job, just because he chooses distance learning?
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Inside Higher Ed. reports:
"Under the new GI Bill, which goes into effect in August, veterans who study entirely online will be eligible for generous tuition and book benefits. But they will be ineligible for a third benefit of the bill — a housing allowance that’s available to their peers attending brick and mortar institutions more than half-time. The amount of the housing allowance varies by location, but, on average, is valued at $1,250 per month.Some may make the argument that traditional students deserve the stipend because they must live near a brick-and-mortar campus. However, online learners need to live somewhere.
While lawmakers originally distinguished between online and in-person learners because of practical considerations — specifically, how to allocate housing allowances to veterans living far from their campuses — many point to inherent value judgments within the new GI Bill that favor a traditional, even transformative, college experience."
If a full-time student is learning through the internet, shouldn't he deserve the same benefits as a student learning in a classroom? Why should a veteran be punished, and possibly have to take on an additional job, just because he chooses distance learning?
See Also:
Comments
I understand and I dont understand and I believe they have modified this that if you are taking at least half time in the classroom you are eligible. I don’t think this is intended to be a relief for students/vets and it is intended to help build the economy at the same time. Two birds with one stone. However, those that do online schooling will be doing what? I am an online student and I think that it is just as hard to do both if not harder and I would appriciate being able to housing if I was to get out of the service however it seems like this program is to discourage working and in encourage people to go a more traditional route. I think that the traditional route is not fair however, I do understand because a lot of veterans have been in the service for a long time and I have to say I been in 6 years and it seems like I just don’t understand civilians. I think it is more for that reason to get veterans especially war veterans in an environment that will help them complete higher education, establish relationship with people which in turn helps with the pysci of the person. If we where allowed to go to online school the interacting is lost and the ability to network and function in our society would be a little hard. Just my thoughts.
I believe it is foul not to provide the housing stipend for on-line/distance learning. I have not had the luxury of homesteading at one assignment for years and many other service members have not been so lucky either. After ten years of service resulting in six assignments and almost twenty TDY’s I would be getting the snub for everything I have accomplished thus far. My constant moving has given me no choice but to go through Distance Learning for my education. My supervsiors inform me not to pursue face to face classes because the mission comes first and if I miss to many classes I will be forced to drop, fail due to lack of participation. Guess what? That money is out of pocket past a certain time. Why will my ten years of educational achievements be scrapped? The university I am attending does not offer a campuses across the globe. The Air Force has provided thousands of dollars in tution assistance for my education. It makes zero sense not too.
When I separated from the military in the beginning of 2008 I was almost finished with my Bachelor’s degree it did not make since at the time to transfer to a “traditional” school. I would have lost a substantial amount of credits. Therefore I stayed with my online school. While the GI Bill is nice and all I agree that it would be nice to be eligible for house allowance. I have a VA Home Loan, I have a mortgage to pay. I also have been unemployed since I separated from service even though I am and have been actively seeking employment and interviewing. I have not received any job offers. Thankfully my husband was able to find employment after he was medically discharged or we would have lost our home. He did have to give up going to school to work since there is more of a need in his job sector right now. We make it month by month in hopes that we can catch a break every now and again.