Veterans' Educational Benefits at Hollins University

Hollins University has been a certified benefits school with the Department of Veterans Affairs for more than 15 years. Now, we are proud to be a part of the Yellow Ribbon Program network, providing additional benefits to Veterans, or their dependents, who qualify for the new Post - 9/11 GI Bill.

Determining Eligibility

Members of the military should contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine individual eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) and Yellow Ribbon Program, or any of the other chapters under the Montgomery GI Bill. Once eligibility has been determined by the VA, a qualifying individual should present the appropriate certificate of eligibility to Janice Bishop in the Registrar's Office at Hollins University (you can contact Janice at jbishop@hollins.edu or 540-362-6243). Once Hollins has received the appropriate certificate of eligibility and the eligible student has been accepted for admission, we will help facilitate appropriate next steps.

Chapter 33: Post - 9/11 GI Bill

Beginning August 1, 2009, the educational benefits available to our nation's veterans were substantially increased under the provisions of the "Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act." The new law provides for payment of tuition and fees, a housing allowance, and a stipend for books and supplies for eligible veterans who have served on active military duty since September 11, 2001. In general, the maximum tuition and fees benefit available under the law is capped at the level of the in-state charges at the most expensive public institution in a state.

Yellow Ribbon Program Enhancement to the Post-9/11 GI Bill

Individuals entitled to the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill (based on service requirements, visit the GI Bill Website for eligibility guidelines) are eligible to take advantage of the Yellow Ribbon Program. You may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program if:

• You served an aggregate period of active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, of at least 36 months;
• You were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and you served 30 continuous days after Sept. 10, 2001;
• You are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on a veteran's service under the eligibility criteria listed above.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays up to the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition and fees. In Virginia, the maximum tuition amount under the Post-9/11 GI Bill for the 2009-2010 academic year is $326/credit hour (which, for an undergraduate student taking the "normal" 30 semester hours over an academic year amounts to a total of $9,780 toward tuition).

The Yellow Ribbon Program allows colleges with tuition charges greater than $9,780 per academic year (in Virginia) to enter into an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs to share remaining tuition costs. Hollins University has entered into such an agreement, offering to waive up to $9,200 per academic year per eligible student for tuition coss, which with an identical match by the VA, in most cases will provide a grant large enough to cover the full cost of tuition and fees for a Yellow Ribbon-eligible veteran (or his/her eligible dependent). Post-9/11 GI Bill and/or Yellow Ribbon benefits, will always be considered first for payment on a student’s tuition and fees at Hollins University. Other sources of funding specifically identified for tuition may be reduced or returned when total resources exceed the cost of tuition and fees.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill also provides a monthly housing allowance for an eligible veteran (or his/her eligible dependent). Information about how to calculate this amount can be found under the Post-9/11 GI Bill information link on the GI Bill Website.

Additional Veterans Benefits Programs

For information about the other GI Bill chapters, as well as complete information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program, please visit the GI Bill Website or call 888-442-4551 to speak with a veterans' benefits counselor. Details regarding Transferability of Post-9/11 Bill Benefits to dependents and a comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions can also be found on the GI Bill Website.

If you have additional questions about the education benefits offered to veterans at Hollins University, please contact Janice Bishop, the benefits certifying official, in the Registrar's Office at jbishop@hollins.edu or 540-362-6243.

Higher Education Opportunity Act

Hollins University complies fully with requirements for Readmission of Veterans as defined in the "Higher Education Opportunity Act." Any student providing the requisite documentation of eligibility and readmitted to Hollins under the terms of the statute will return with the same academic status as when last in attendance. In most cases, the length of the absence from the institution cannot exceed five years. Service members separating from the military under certain conditions (including veterans receiving a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge, or who are sentenced in a court-martial) are not eligible for readmission under the terms of the Higher Education Opportunity Act. Those individuals may seek return to the University under the academic policies applicable to all students.