7/13/09 - Capitol Technology University



8/18/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rebecca Steiner

Assistant Director, Marketing and Communications

301-369-2800 ext. 3015

rlsteiner@capitol-college.edu

Capitol College participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program

LAUREL – Capitol College is one of the fourteen independent colleges and universities in Maryland that have elected to participate in the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act Yellow Ribbon Program, the most generous veterans’ benefit for higher education since the WWII GI Bill.

“The college’s beginnings as a correspondence school to the Navy has led us to respect and admire our country’s active military and veterans,” said Capitol College President Dr. Michael Wood. “We want to provide our service men and women with a relevant and affordable education while assisting them in achieving their career goals, so our participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program was a natural step in extending our military-friendly status.”

The Yellow Ribbon Program, which went into effect on August 1, 2009, allows colleges to enter into matching agreements with the federal government to cover any difference between the base GI Bill benefit and total tuition and fees. At Capitol, this program will allow qualifying veterans the opportunity to attend one of Capitol’s twelve undergraduate or 6 graduate programs tuition free.

“This is a remarkable level of participation by Maryland independent colleges and universities and demonstrates their commitment to serving veterans,” says Tina Bjarekull, president of the Maryland Independent College and University Association (MICUA).

The Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act 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. 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. The benefit cap in Maryland has been set at $458.13 per-credit-hour and $2,380 per semester for fees.

Institutions that charge higher tuition may elect to enter into an agreement with the Veterans Administration to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public, in-state undergraduate tuition. This portion of the program is known as the Yellow Ribbon Program. Under the Yellow Ribbon Program, an institution may fund up to 50 percent of the tuition and fee costs that exceed the state cap.  The federal government will match these institutional contributions dollar-for-dollar.

Institutions must enter into an agreement to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program and must provide specific information concerning the institutional match and the number of eligible veterans the institution will serve. Within those parameters, veterans are eligible on a first-come, first-served basis.

To be eligible for 100 percent of the benefit, an individual must have served an aggregate of 36 months of active duty service, or have been discharged for a service-connected disability after 30 days of continuous service. For those who served fewer than 36 months, the percentage of benefit ranges from 40 percent to 90 percent.

Capitol College is the only independent college in Maryland dedicated to engineering, computer science, information technology and business. Founded in 1927, Capitol is an accredited institution offering associate, bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as professional development training and certificates, and partnerships with government and industry. Capitol is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security. The college is located in Laurel, Maryland, a suburban setting midway between Washington, DC and Baltimore. Capitol and is committed to providing a quality education that is technology-driven, accessible, affordable and practical especially during these challenging economic times. Additional information can be found online at capitol-college.edu.

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