Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act (VACAA) of 2014 (38 U.S.C. 3679(c))

Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 [effective July 1, 2015] as codified in 38 U.S.C. 3679(c). In 2016 Congress passed Public Law 114-315 [effective July 1, 2017], which modifies 38 U.S.C. 3679(c).

Eastern Oregon University is a proud participant of the 2014 Veterans Choice Act, which allows Veterans and other covered individuals under the Montgomery & Post 911 GI Bills® to receive in-state tuition. Active duty personnel and Veterans who identify as such on the admission application will automatically receive in-state tuition. Eligible dependents, spouses, and individuals currently receiving transferred benefits or the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship must contact the Registrar’s Office once admitted to the University to verify eligibility. Veteran and Service Member students receive priority registration at EOU.

EOU will allow any covered individual to attend or participate in courses of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to EOU a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33. EOU ensures all covered individuals will not accrue any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to EOU due to the delayed disbursement of a payment to be provided by the Secretary under chapter 31 or 33.

Students Eligible for In-State Tuition under Section 702 (“Choice Act”) include:

• A Veteran who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of their formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
• A spouse or child using transferred benefits who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of their formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within 3 years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
• A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of their formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the Servicemember’s death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
• Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of their formal state of residence) and the transferor is a member of the uniformed service who is serving on active duty.

Veterans who do not qualify under the Choice Act will likely qualify under HB 2158 (2013) and HB 4021 (2014) section 1. ORS 352.375 or HB 2787

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Eastern Oregon University offers early, priority registration to students using veterans’ educational benefits and to identified veterans and military members.

Priority registration supports timely program completion in compliance with Oregon House Bill 2565.

Students being certified by the Registrar’s Office for federal VA educational benefits will automatically be given veteran priority registration.

Oregon HB 2565

Section 1018 of Public Law 116-315

Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, adds new requirements for educational institutions participating in the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These new provisions became effective June 15, 2021, and will apply to Institutions of Higher Learning and Non-College Degree institutions beginning August 1, 2021. Many of the requirements are consistent with the requirements of the Principles of Excellence, currently in Executive Order 13607; however, there are requirements in addition to those embodied in the Principles of Excellence which schools must also satisfy to maintain approval for GI Bill® participation.

Schools must provide a covered individual (a student using benefits under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, U.S.C., or chapter 1606 of title 10, U.S.C.) with a personalized shopping sheet that contains:

Estimated total cost of the course that includes tuition, fees, books, supplies and any other additional costs.

• Cost of Attendance

Estimated cost of living expenses.

• Estimated Costs

Other types of Federal financial aid, not administered by VA that is offered by the institution, that the individual may be qualified to receive.

• Financial Aid Office

The Principles of Excellence program requires schools that get federal funding through programs such as the GI Bill® to follow certain guidelines. Learn about these guidelines.

Schools that are a part of the program must:

• Give you a written personal summary of the total cost of your educational program, including:
  • The costs covered by your benefits.
  • The financial aid you may qualify for.
  • Your expected student-loan debt after you graduate.
  • Other information to help you compare aid packages offered by different schools.
• Give you an educational plan with a timeline showing how and when you can fulfill everything required for you to graduate.
• Assign you a point of contact who will give you ongoing academic and financial advice (including access to disability counseling).
• Allow for you to be gone for both long and short periods of time due to service obligations (service you must fulfill) for active-duty service members and Reservists.
• Make sure all new programs are accredited (officially approved) before enrolling students.
• Make sure their refund policies follow Title IV rules, which guide federal student financial aid programs.
• End fraudulent (deceitful) and aggressive methods of recruiting.

Schools that don’t charge tuition and fees don’t have to follow the Principles of Excellence guidelines. These include:

• Foreign schools
• High schools
• On-the-job training and apprenticeship programs
• Residency and internship programs

Use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool to learn which schools are part of the program. You can also compare benefits offered by different schools.
Use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool

https://militarybenefits.info/principles-of-excellence/