Last January, the federal government launched a new online complaint system for veterans, members of the armed services, and their families to report problems with colleges that receive funds from veteran and military education benefits programs. Since the online system went live in January 2014, thousands of veterans and active-duty members of the armed services have used the service to express their grievances, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported
Speaking at a meeting of the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities, officials in the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) said the VA received 2,711 complaints as of February 22 and the Pentagon, which hosts a smaller benefits programs, received 223 as of September 30, 2014.
Most of the complaints have centered on financial problems, such as tuition and fee charges and refunds, and the quality of the education received. Other issues include more mundane concerns, such as the quality of the food in a college’s cafeteria, for example.
A majority of the complaints that the DoD received through September have been resolved, with no penalties for the institutions cited. Only 42 percent of the financially-related complaints filed with the VA through February 22 have been resolved, according to the Chronicle.
Related Links
The Chronicle of Higher Education
http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/thousands-of-veterans-have-filed-complaints-against-colleges-in-new-u-s-system/95033