A June 28 Denver Post headline proclaiming that Colorado State University offers veterans free tuition drew an unusual amount of attention at UCCS.
The word “free” has a way of doing that, particularly when the CSU program identified in the Post story is the same federal government-backed program offered at UCCS, CU Boulder, CU Denver and 30 other public colleges in Colorado.
The Post wrote about the Yellow Ribbon Program, a three-year-old addition to education benefits. The program covers all university tuition and fees, a book stipend and a housing allowance for veterans with the bulk of the bill paid by the Veterans Administration. In addition, as part of the Post 9/11 Veterans Assistance Act of 2008, active duty military members may be eligible to transfer their benefits to their dependents children or spouses.
A total of 34 public and private institutions in Colorado participate in the Yellow Ribbon program, including UCCS. But the Post article only mentioned two – CSU and the University of Northern Colorado.
For Dana Rocha, director, Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, the omission of UCCS by the Post was inaccurate. Rocha and staff help more than 1,000 students every year navigate the maze of benefits available to them as veterans or the child or spouse of a veteran.
“The programs for veterans can be complicated and the paperwork daunting,” Rocha said. “We’re here to help veterans and their families understand what benefits they are eligible for, how to obtain them, and that college is both possible and close to home. The last thing I want is for someone to think they have to drive to Fort Collins or Greeley to use the benefits they earned as a member of the military when Colorado has local state schools within a few miles of a local military installation.”
Rocha encouraged UCCS faculty and staff to help spread the word that UCCS is a military friendly institution, an active participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program, and staffed with people who understand how to navigate within the VA system who are ready to help.
“If you know of a returning service member or the family of a service member interested in pursuing a college degree, please let them know we’re here and ready to help,” Rocha said.
For more information about military education benefits, contact Dana Rocha, director, Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, [email protected], 255-4662 or visit Main Hall 104.
To see the Post article, visit http://www.uccs.edu/~ur/2006/view_article_mediawatch.php?y=mediawatch_articles&article_id=2408
To see the Pueblo Chieftain coverage, visit
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