D'Youville to Offer Vets Yellow Ribbon GI Benefits

College President Signs Agreement at News Conference

BUFFALO - D'Youville College held a news conference in the Connecticut Street Armory today (May 20) to announce their participation in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program.

Sister Denise Roche, college president signed the agreement at the news conference.

D'Youville is one of the first private institutions in Western New York to enter into an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program to discharged military men and women.

Called the best GI Bill since World War II, it becomes effective August 1, 2009 and will cover all of a students tuition and fees at D'Youville, according to Ben Randle, director of the Office of Veterans Affairs at the college. It applies to both undergraduate and graduate education.

The program allows colleges and universities to voluntarily enter into the agreement to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public higher education institute in-state undergraduate tuition rate. D'Youville will contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses and the VA will match the same amount.

This is a fantastic program for veterans, Randle, a Marine veteran, said. It allows the individual to choose the institution he or she want to attend and not worry about tuition. They will be treated equitable, as the vets were in World War II, and make a college education available to those who otherwise could never afford it.

Military individuals are eligible for full tuition benefits if they have served at least three years after September 11, 2001, were honorably discharged, and enroll at an institution that has the agreement with the VA. Reduced amounts are available for those who served on active duty less than 36 months.

Benefits are available for veterans who have service connected disabilities, according to the VA. There is also an annual textbook allowance of up to $1000 per school year and a monthly subsistence allowance.

The VA began accepting applications on May 1.

D'Youville established an Office of Veterans Affairs in March to help meet the needs of those who have served in the military.

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Contact: Ben Randle at 716-829-7836

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Education

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