Among VA’s several educational benefit programs, the Post-9/11 GI Bill program, which took effect on August 1, 2009, has become the largest (see fig. 1). In fiscal year 2013, the Post-9/11 GI Bill program had 754,529 participants and accounted for about $10.2 billion in obligations, representing the majority of participants and funding of all VA education programs. This program provides benefits generally to veterans who For served on active duty for at least 90 days after September 10, 2001.those who served on active duty for 36 months, VA will pay the full tuition and fees at an in-state public school and up to an annual maximum amount at nonprofit and for-profit schools ($19,198 in academic year 2013-14). Veterans may also receive payments towards housing and other expenses, such as books. Veterans attending participating nonprofit or for-profit schools, or public schools as out-of-state students, may receive additional benefits to cover tuition and fees through the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Under this program, schools enter into voluntary agreements Program).with VA to pay a portion of the tuition and fees that exceed an individual’s Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit and VA matches the schools’ contribution. VA education benefits, including Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, may be used at different types of postsecondary schools. Veterans may use these benefits at schools from any of the three sectors: (1) public schools, which are operated and funded by state or local governments; (2) nonprofit schools, which are owned and operated by nonprofit organizations whose net earnings do not benefit any shareholder or individual; and (3) for-profit schools, which are privately owned and whose net earnings can benefit individuals or shareholders. Additionally veterans may use benefits for a variety of schools and degree programs, including 4-year colleges and universities that typically offer bachelor’s degrees or higher, community colleges that typically offer associates degrees, and vocational and technical schools that offer certificates, but typically not degrees. Lastly, students may participate in a program on a physical school campus, through online programs, or both. To receive education benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill, students submit applications to VA, schools certify students’ enrollment in classes, and VA processes claims and payments. VA then pays schools directly for tuition and fees and sends payments for housing allowances and book stipends to students who are eligible for these payments. VA conducts compliance reviews to assess whether schools that receive VA education benefits adhere to applicable laws and regulations. VA’s central office develops policies for these reviews, which are implemented by compliance personnel in VA’s regional offices, along with state approving agencies. To conduct these reviews, compliance personnel at VA and state approving agencies visit schools, examine school records, and interview school officials and students to check, for instance, if a school is enrolling beneficiaries in approved courses and making payments properly. Compliance personnel must also review whether a school’s advertising, sales, or enrollment practices are erroneous, deceptive, or misleading, under existing law. Additionally, existing law mandates that compliance reviews be conducted annually at all schools with 300 or more students who receive VA education benefits and at all schools that receive benefits and do not award college degrees; however, VA has the authority to waive these reviews for schools with a demonstrated record of compliance. Executive Order 13607 and Public Law 112-249 require VA to take additional steps to oversee schools and inform student veterans about their education choices (see table 1). The executive order, issued in April 2012, aims to better protect veteran and military students from inappropriate school behavior, as well as provide these students with useful information on their school choices. For instance, the executive order required VA and other agencies to establish “Principles of Excellence,” calling on participating schools to end fraudulent and unduly aggressive recruiting practices and provide students, prior to enrollment, with a personalized form covering the total cost of an education program, among other things. Although schools receiving VA education benefits are not required to adopt the Principles of Excellence, VA strongly encourages schools to do so and posts lists of participating schools on the GI Bill website. Public Law 112-249, enacted in January 2013, focused on improving outreach and transparency of information to veterans and has elements similar to the executive order. It required VA to develop a comprehensive policy to include, for example, a public feedback system on schools and expand its outreach on its educational counseling service. This free service is available, upon request, to all individuals who are eligible for VA education benefits and can help them explore their career and educational goals and consider options for attaining those goals. Officials from all of the nine schools we interviewed told us that their schools engaged in recruiting efforts specifically focused on attracting student veterans. For instance, three schools had a separate department for military relations or services, which handled all of the recruiting and outreach for veteran and military students and coordinated with the school’s marketing and admissions departments. Four other schools did not have a separate office, but designated an admissions director or other official whose role was to oversee recruiting efforts for veteran and military students. Officials from five of the nine schools also said that they were actively trying to increase their military or student veteran population through their recruitment efforts. For example, officials at a nonprofit school said that in recent years it has placed a higher priority on adult students and online learning, in part, to increase enrollment and meet the needs of the veteran and military student population. Similarly, officials at a public community college near several military bases said that it wanted to increase its student population, with a specific focus on student veterans because they were a large and growing part of their local community. Officials at one nonprofit and one for-profit school said that they were interested in attracting student veterans for a variety of reasons, including a desire to meet the needs of this population and the availability of VA benefits to pay for tuition costs. Examples of Criteria Used by External Organizations to Designate Schools as Military Friendly Simplified, expedited, or flexible enrolment processes for veteran or military students. Proportion of veteran or military students of all enrolled students. Credit transfer policies that minimize loss of credit and avoid duplication of course work, including academic credit for military training or experience. Campus support services, such as full-time veteran counsellors at the school, mentoring, networking events, clubs and associations, and veterans’ lounges and centers. Flexible policies for veteran or military students, such as availability of evening, weekend, and online academic programs or accommodating needs of military students who are deployed. Military student outcomes, such as graduation rates or employment rates for veteran and military students. Participation in VA and Department of Defense programs, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Yellow Ribbon Program, and Department of Defense’s education benefits program for servicemembers. Selected schools’ websites also demonstrated a focus on recruiting veteran or military students, as 29 of the 30 school websites we reviewed included sections dedicated to veteran or military students. Over half (19) of these schools had a direct link on their home page to a veteran or military student section that included information on veterans’ benefits, the school’s Yellow Ribbon Program, or information to help veterans apply to the school (5 public, 7 nonprofit, 7 for-profit). Moreover, seven schools featured veterans or military servicemembers prominently on their home page when we reviewed their websites, such as by posting photos of students in military attire or promoting the school’s veteran scholarship programs. As part of their focus on the prospective veteran and military student population, eight of the nine schools we interviewed promoted themselves as “veteran friendly” or “military friendly,” and 14 of the 30 schools whose websites we reviewed (4 public, 6 nonprofit, 4 for-profit) used these or similar terms. Schools generally cited ratings from external organizations, such as GI Jobs’ MilitaryFriendlySchools.com, as sources for their designation as a military friendly school. These organizations rate schools on various criteria, such as the availability of veteran or military support services or academic credit for military training or experience (see sidebar). Officials at one public school stated that they use such criteria to guide them in considering additional ways to support veterans and servicemembers at their school. Officials from eight of the nine schools we interviewed reported advertising to some extent in print or online media dedicated to military audiences (see fig. 2). For instance, eight schools advertised in print media, ranging from national military publications to local military base newspapers. Officials from one for-profit school said that their school advertised in about 20 military base newspapers across the country, typically at bases where the school is regularly invited to speak. Some of the schools we interviewed also advertised to veteran or military students through social media, such as Facebook© and Twitter©, and online advertising, such as banner advertisements on military-affiliated websites. In addition to broad advertising, officials from all nine schools we interviewed reported conducting in-person recruiting activities, such as participating in education fairs, where they could interact with prospective veteran and military students. For instance, all nine schools participated in education or career fairs specifically for veteran or military students, with one school participating in around 70 such events a year. Officials at seven schools said that they made recruiting visits on military bases to which they were invited, generally those that were located near their campuses. For example, officials from one nonprofit school said that they did recruiting visits at the 18 military bases where they had a campus, as well as other bases to which they were invited. Officials from one for-profit school said that it visited about 30 military bases in a year, generally through education fairs held on bases. This school also routinely held office hours for military students currently enrolled in the school, and these office hours also provided opportunities for school representatives to meet prospective students who had heard about the school through word of mouth.