FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         Contact:  Ozzie Garza
March 9, 2010                                                                 (204) 505-4315

Veterans Affairs Secretary Urges Higher Education for Veterans

PHOENIX – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki today told the American Council on Education that VA’s goal is to open the door to higher education to as many Veterans and servicemembers as possible.

The Secretary, a member of President Obama’s Cabinet, stressed that education has always been the catalyst for this country’s national growth and professional achievement. Speaking to university presidents, chancellors and educators, Shinseki told the group that the Post-9/11 GI Bill is a tremendous investment in the future of the country.  He said the achievement of our ‘greatest generation’ is poised to repeat itself in the latest generation of Veterans who are putting the Post-9/11 GI Bill to use.

VA finished the fall semester with 173,000 Veterans in classrooms at 6,500 colleges and universities nationwide.  Last month VA began sending checks to an estimated 180,000 Veterans enrolled in school at that point.  To date, VA has received over 255,000 spring enrollment certifications for over 192,000 Veterans, and has already paid 96 percent of these Veterans. In Arizona, there were 33,986 students enrolled in education programs in Fiscal Year 2009.

To help address the high volume of claims received for the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, VA has hired an additional 530 employees, bringing the total number of education claims processors to 1,200.  Shinseki emphasized the shared responsibility of VA, colleges and universities, communities and student Veterans to ensure the success of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. VA is reaching out to student Veterans, administrators, state education officials, and members of Congress about the Department’s efforts to implement this historic program.

Veterans, servicemembers, reservists, and members of the National Guard who served on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, are potentially eligible for the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, which provides payments for tuition and fees, as well as a housing allowance and stipend for books and supplies.

Information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as well as VA’s other educational benefit programs, is available at VA’s Web site, www.gibill.va.gov <http://www.gibill.va.gov/> , or by calling 1-888-GIBILL-1 (or 1-888-442-4551).

Jessica Jacobsen, APR
Deputy Director
Dallas Regional Office of Public Affairs *
Department of Veterans Affairs
Phone: 817-385-3720
Cell: 214-649-8380
*Dallas Region includes:  AR, AZ, LA, MS, NM, OK, TX