Since October 2009, Syracuse University -- with support from the National Science Foundation -- has been studying veterans' educational aspirations, with emphasis on technical fields and engineering. We have created the most comprehensive national dataset on servicepersons' educational goals and needs.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill is the largest expansion of veterans' benefits since the original post-World War II 1944 GI Bill. The 1944 bill helped make the United States a global technological powerhouse and superpower, delivered us our "greatest generation," and by its end in 1956, educated 8 million of 16 million veterans, resulting in 14 Nobel Prize winners, 91,000 scientists, 67,000 doctors, 450,000 engineers, and countless others. Although the Post 9/11 GI Bill is an investment in veterans, we as a nation reap the benefits.
Our interviews with active duty servicemembers and veterans have revealed many things: First, they are anxious about becoming students again, about whether their peers -- the average college student fresh out of high school -- can relate to their commitment to country. Second, they desire "military friendly" campuses, a cohort of veterans to relate to the hardships of being a student while being a spouse, a parent, recovering from PTSD, or making the transition back to civilian life. Third, the hostile response to veterans during recent campus debates over reinstalling ROTC programs has not inspired their confidence.
As a result, servicemembers often ask us, "Should I use my GI Bill educational benefits at for-profit, on-line schools?" We think the for-profit model can be problematic for several reasons: First, "for-profit educational management companies" use ad hoc credentialing strategies to gain market share. Second, 'for-profit' credits may not be eligible for transfer to regionally accredited schools (most traditional universities and colleges). And third, 'for profit' degrees may carry a lower market value than their nonprofit equivalents. Nonetheless, many service-members report that their first choice is to attend a 'for-profit,' a finding confirmed by a recent U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Report showing that nearly 30 percent of students using the GI Bill are attending 'for-profits'. Meanwhile, mounting evidence shows that although for-profit education may produce high returns for shareholders, it can subject students to increased risk of loan default, unethical recruitment practices, and higher degree costs and attrition rates.
And what about the implications for the nation? In 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs spent $697 million on tuition at public universities and $640 million at for-profits, yet funded 203,790 students at public schools compared to 76,746 at 'for-profits.' The Senate Report also notes that government education benefits received by 20 for-profits increased from $66.6 million in 2006 to $521.2 million in 2010 - an increase of 683 percent. If the expansion of military benefits has made veterans targets for for-profits seeking to satisfy investor demands, the future U.S. economy, driven by a well-educated labor force, stands to suffer from collateral damage. It is noteworthy that no for-profit has managed to launch an accredited engineering program.
From the veteran perspective we have heard two views. On the one hand, veterans feel "taken advantage of" by for-profits and wary of the online programs they offer. The whole point of college, said one veteran, is to "interact with fellow students, engage with people of different backgrounds, take tests under pressure, experience the intangibles of personal growth and maturation that occur in a campus setting." This view sees for-profits as "making veteran isolation worse, not better." Alternatively we have heard, "my biggest gripe about the GI Bill is that I work full time, own two houses, am divorced, have two children, and have a job that requires a lot of traveling, so I'm basically forced into online courses, and the most I can do is 6 credits per semester." This view explains: "with the new GI Bill, I don't get the same housing entitlements, and I'm really not sure about the quality of these [for-profit] degrees." Clearly, credible university-based online degree programs need to be made available to veterans.
Given current U.S. fiscal constraints, we must ensure that we are getting the most out of our investments. Not only do we need to seriously reconsider whether for-profits give us the greatest return on our investment in the GI Bill, but whether they provide the quality education that our veterans deserve. The burden of Iraq and Afghanistan rests on less than 1 percent of our nation, cementing a divide between servicemember and society. The Post 9/11 GI Bill is one of our best means to ensure a strong economy and healthy middle class, while providing opportunities for citizens committed to public service. It would be a shame to allow for-profits to siphon off that potential, only to line their pockets at the expense of America's future best and brightest, and for the sake of providing a service which at best further isolates our veterans from their society and at worst undercuts the next generation of Nobel Prize winners, scholars, scientists, doctors, inventors, and engineers.
Alan Grayson: Did They Die in Vain?
"interact with fellow students, engage with people of different backgrounds, take tests under pressure, experience the intangibles of personal growth and maturation.†Most of these former military personnel have matured under pressure that is greater than anything normal college students can expect to find on campus. Interaction can be done online through the chat-rooms that most of these online classes utilize. For profit schools are not the only schools using online classes. University of Illinois has many online degrees available as well as the University of Maryland University Campus.
We must also remember that public schools while non-profit have several bigger name schools that make sizeable profits off of their sports teams. As long as the college/ university is accredited they should not be viewed as inferior to any other accredited institution. Just remember no matter where you go to college at none of the institutions guarantee you a job when you graduate in a career field that requires your degree.
I don't mind that you distribute information warning people of the high costs, I do mind you telling me that I can't choose where to put the money I earned on my education.
The problem with the housing allowance being tied to having to take face-to-face courses sounds a lot like some of the stupid regulations devise becasue they don't trust online learning. At my university, it took a few years to convinced admissions that online students shouldn't have to prove they have their measles shots.
None of those scam jobs should be accredited.
Corporate socialism is killing America.
There's nothing to say that we wouldn't have had those benefits without the GI Bill. In reality, the GI Bill was a preemptive solution to the massive unemployment problem that would have arisen had those millions of GI's, having lived through four years of non-stop horror and without PTSD assistance or even recognition of the problem, flooded back into a job market (widely populated by women, in any case) that was quickly shrinking as war production wound down.
Oh, it was a good idea. Let's just try to keep all this in perspective and discuss the full issue.
BTW, for profit colleges and universities are anathema to a nation that endorses and supports public education. There should be no more government advantage of any type given to private colleges than is given to private primary and secondary schools.
Also, it must be remembered that High School can be years back for many Veterans. SAT scores can be old or may not have been taken. Scores themselves may have been lower if the Veteran had not planned on going to College after High School. This can make it difficult (or daunting) to get into a more selective College for many Service Members.
In my own case I graduated High School in 1981. I served several years on active Duty and used an older form of the GI Bill (called VEAP) to go to school in 1987-1992. I had to start school part time because I worked full time and had a family. Eventually I was able to transition to full time student and then decided upon graduation to return to the Army as an Officer and have since retired.
I share the authors concerns to make sure the Veterans get the best education and "bang for the buck " but the unique concerns of the Vets needs to be carefully considered.
So, upon graduation, where will you be employed? The local fast food place? No degree required, there.
Back in the service? Ummm....no thanks, been there, done that, threw away the t-shirt, and I'll start my Guide To Sheltered Bridges Across North America Where You Can Get Free Food before that happens.
Maybe we'll have the Big Economic Turnaround, and, maybe we won't. But, moving on to the FAFSA plantation? Better consider that decider VERY carefully. A college degree guarantees NOTHING, and if you were a screwoff/screwup BEFORE, nothing magical about education that's going to remedy the situation. You're better off to sober up, straighten up, lace up, and get some job-specific training through local employers a la apprenticeship etc., if/where available. Not all 'education' takes place in a formalized classroom setting, either, and sometimes you end up learning more outside of such environs than you ever will inside of them.