Purdue increases institutional contribution for military veterans
This fall, Purdue will more than triple its contributions to the federal Yellow Ribbon program, which provides financial help to student veterans and their dependents.
The program will provide an additional $5,000 per semester in aid to out-of-state student veterans through contributions from Purdue and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
"It's very important for us to show that Purdue supports our student veterans and appreciates the commitment and sacrifice they've made," says Purdue President Emerita France Córdova. "For us, increasing the financial help available through the Yellow Ribbon program is a way to do that."
For the past three years, eligible military veterans and their dependents have received $1,000 per semester from Purdue and $1,000 per semester from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs through the program, which helps veteran students pay for out-of-state tuition not covered by the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. In the fall, the contribution from Purdue and the Department of Veteran Affairs will increase to $3,500 per semester from each, for a total possibility of $7,000 in support per student per semester.
In-state veteran students' tuition and fees typically are covered through the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, but it does not cover additional fees out-of-state students typically must pay. Purdue is contributing an additional $250,000 to the program through the president's discretionary funds — bringing the University's total contributions to $350,000 for students enrolling in the 2012-13 academic year — in an effort to become more accommodating to veterans, Córdova says.
Veterans who have served at least 36 months of active duty after Sept. 11, 2001, may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon program. The spouses and children of such veterans also may be eligible.
Up to 50 student veterans or eligible dependents could receive support from the Yellow Ribbon program on a first-come, first served basis during this coming academic year.
An extension of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, the Yellow Ribbon program allows participating colleges and universities to offer financial support to eligible veterans or their dependents while providing one-to-one matching funds through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
More information about the Yellow Ribbon program can be found at https://gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/yellow_ribbon_program.html.
