Last month, President Biden signed into law legislation that would help to ensure student veterans can quickly and easily transfer course credits to another institution should their school close or program end suddenly, reported Diverse Issues in Higher Education.
Current law requires the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to restore G.I. Bill benefits (up to 12 credits) to eligible student veterans whose schools close or program ends in the middle of a semester, a process that can be very confusing and oftentimes leaves veterans unable to easily transfer their earned credits to a new school, according to a press release. The Veterans Eligible to Transfer School (VETS) Credit Act, sponsored by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), requires the VA to work with students and explain the school credit transfer process and to provide them with a certificate of eligibility from the VA providing proof of their restored benefits. The measure also includes language from a bill sponsored by Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) that makes it easier for dependents of veterans or active-duty military to retain transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits, Diverse reported.
The VETS Credit Act passed the House in May of last year with broad bipartisan support by a vote of 412-1. It passed the Senate in December unanimously, during the lame duck session of the 117th Congress.
"The G.I. Bill's promise of a college education is one of the most important and effective tools we have to recruit and retain the very best and brightest to serve in the U.S. armed forces," said Rep. Buchanan in a statement. The legislation will "ensure that no veteran loses access to the valuable G.I. Bill credits they earned and deserve by virtue of their service."
Related Links
U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan’s Press Release
https://buchanan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/buchanan-bill-help-student-veterans-passes-us-senate-0
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
https://www.diverseeducation.com/military/article/15304946/president-biden-signs-vets-credit-act