Categories: Education

Military Connection: CA Colleges Suspended: By Debbie Gregory

Since its implementation in 2009, more than a million Veterans have utilized the Post-9/11 GI Bill. There are still hundreds of thousands of Veteran college students currently using their GI Bills and millions more current and future service members that will utilize their education benefits. With so many Veterans using their education benefits, measures and standards are in place to protect Veterans and ensure that they are getting the education they earned through their military service.

The California State Approving Agency for Veteran Education (CSAAVE), which operates under the California Department of Veterans Affairs, is the overseer of standards for colleges, universities and vocational schools accepting GI Bill Tuition funding from Veteran students in California.

As part of their duties, CSAAVE has issued a “notice of Suspension” to all Wyotech, Heald and Everest colleges in California, owned and operated by Corinthian Colleges, Inc. The notice prohibits the schools from future enrollment or reenrollment of Veteran students through the GI Bill.

CSAAVE initiated the suspension as a result of a set of plans made by Corinthian Colleges, Inc. Company representatives filed documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, stating they intended to sell some of their schools. Corinthian Colleges, Inc. also filed a plan with the U.S. Department of Education that provides a “teach-out” plan for students currently enrolled in their programs, if and when any of the schools are sold or closed.

Because of Corinthian Colleges, Inc.’s two filings with federal government agencies, officials at CSAAVE and CalVet felt it best to be proactive, rather than wait until Veteran students found themselves without a school to use their GI Bill benefits.

As it stands, the schools have 60 days to correct the discrepancies and comply with CSAAVE policy and directives. They must also provide CalVet with verifiable documentation that demonstrates compliance with acceptable standards. CalVet staff is working very closely with the schools, as well as other state and federal agencies, in order to minimize the impact of this suspension on the veterans.

Veteran students in California who were considering using their GI Bill benefits at any of these schools should consider other options.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard & Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.