The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program)

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (also known as The Post 9/11 GI Bill).  Institutions of Higher Learning like Loyola have elected to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program to make additional funds available to qualified veterans . Institutions  choose the amount of tuition and fees that will be contributed. VA will match that amount and issue payment directly to the institution.

Only individuals entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements)under the Post 9/11 GI  Bill may receive this supplemental funding

Effective August 1, 2012,  the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill will pay up to $18,077 per academic year for tuition and fee expenses at a private university.

"How Much Can I Receive Under this Program?"

 Starting with the 2010-2011 academic year, Loyola University expanded the program to include graduate  students. To date,  we have had enough funding to  offer awards to all eligible students. Awards will be made on a "first come, first served basis" after applicants have submitted their  Certification of Eligibility to Loyola. A limited number of scholarships will also be available through the Law School.

There were some changes in how the program works starting with the 2011-2012 award year. 

• The maximum annual award FROM LOYOLA that a full-time student can receive for the 2011-2012 academic year will be $12,000 under the Yellow Ribbon Program

• Awards will cover a maximum of 8 semesters of full-time study for incoming freshmen. The maximum length of the award may be amended for incoming transfer students based on the number of earned hours accepted for credit towards their Loyola degree program.
• Awards will be pro-rated for students who enroll on a part-time basis

2.  Institutional merit scholarship awards normally  apply to tuition charges only. If the student with a full Yellow Ribbon award lives on campus AND has an on-campus meal plan, the institutional merit scholarship will be directed towards paying those charges. Institutional merit scholarship money will not be refunded to the student to pay for off-campus housing and / or meals.

3.   Kathy Gros (kgros@loyno.edu), the Director of Student Records and Registration Services, is the University's "School Certifying Official" (SCO) for all programs administered by the Veteran's Administration.

• Veterans  interested in establishing their eligibility for this program, should initiate an application through the Veteran's Administration's web site at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp 
• The Veterans Adminstration will send a Certficate of Eligibility to each applicant. Students should submit a copy of their Certificate of Eligibility  to Kathy Gros immediately upon receipt. Remember, funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

4. The SCO will transmit eligibility information to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. This office will post an estimated award to the student's account with the Student Finance Office. They will also send a "Yellow Ribbon Certification" to the student that outlines the assumptions used to calculate the student's eligibility. Recipients will need to sign and return this letter to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid before funds will be credited to their accounts. A copy of the signed award letter will also be given to the SCO.

• The total award posted on a student's account on PowerFAIDS will be broken down into three components:
  • Estimated Amount to be paid for the academic year by the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill   (cannot exceed $18,077 for the 2012-2013  school year)
  • Estimated "Yellow Ribbon" Amount to be paid by the Veterans Administration
  • Estimated "Yellow Ribbon" Amount to be paid by Loyola.

5.  The Veteran's Administration will forward their portion of the award based on information on the enrollment certification form (22-1999) submitted by the SCO.The Student Finance Office will coordinate posting these payment to the student's account. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will credit Loyola's portion to the student's account with the Student Finance Office.

6.  Renewal Requirements: Recipients will be expected to meet the satisfactory academic progress policy standards applicable to students participating in all other federal student aid programs.

• Students who withdraw from the University will forfeit their spot in the program and will have to re-apply for reinstatement if they re-enroll. This policy also applies to students who take a leave of absence from the university.  Exceptions will be made for any recipients who are re-called to active duty .
• Renewal Letters will be mailed to current recipients before July 1 of each year.
• Yellow Ribbon Request for Scholarship Reinstatement (DRAFT POLICY)

7.  Refunds If Recipients Withdraw: Schools are required to report enrollment information to the Veteran's Administration. Our program participation agreement with the Veteran's Administration mandates that we process refunds under the following circumstances.

•  Should a student enroll in courses, begin attending classes and subsequently drop out, schools shall follow their current refund policy and deal directly with the student. Should the change in enrollment cause a V.A. debt, V.A. will collect from the student. This could result in a diminished payment from VA for the following  semester.
• Should a student die during the semester, and a refund is due, the school shall refund V.A.
• Should a student enroll in courses and never attend classes, the school shall refund to V.A. the full amount of payments received on behalf of the student.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                For more information, contact Kathy Gros, the Director of Student Records & Registration Services (kgros@loyno.edu)  or Cathy Simoneaux, the Director of the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (cmsimone@loyno.edu )

Updated February 20, 2013