<p>Yesterday, the Gov. of Ohio, Ted Strickland signed an executive order declaring that all military veterans, their spouses and dependent children could attend any public college in Ohio for in-state tuition. This comes on the heels of an expanded federal G.I. Bill passed recently by Congress that essentially doubles college funding for veterans. Do you think that we will see this happen in other states, and will there be pressure on states such as Calif. Michigan, and Virginia which have very prestigious publics with high out-of-state costs to show their "patriotism" and grant this benefit to veterans and their families?</p>
<p>Why is patriotism in quotes? Anyway, I'd have used gratitude, rather than patriotism to describe the impetus. And in this world of holistic admissions, perhaps the colleges have found that the discipline & training from time spent in the military translate into achievement & leadership on campus.</p>
<p>Yes, I agree that gratitude is a good word and SHOULD be the reason for this policy--but I think that any state that does not adopt it would be labeled as "unpatriotic"--much like any politician that does not wear a flag on his or her lapel is labeled unpatriotic, which is the kiss of death.</p>
<p>That's great! Exactly how it should be!</p>
<p>In Georgia, a student who can provide documentation supporting that his or her separation from the military has occurred within the last 12 months, and that he or she has established domicile in the State of Georgia, may qualify immediately for an out-of state tuition differential waiver which will expire 12 months from the date the waiver was granted. Current military personnel stationed within the state are also granted waivers.</p>
<p>The difference in this policy, however, is that the student can be a resident from any state and have no intention of ever living in Ohio and receive in-state tuition, and they, themselves, don't have to be the veteran--it can be one of their parents. It seems that this would, perhaps, be a one incentive for joining the military as long as the government could not cancel the offer in the future. Some States, like Ohio, are trying to keep their educated young people from leaving the state, so maybe students from other states that attend school in Ohio, may stay there after graduation.</p>
<p>I'd say that's little enough we can do for the children of those who have put their lives on 'hold' and served in the military. Won't surprise me if we see other states following Ohio's lead. State schools often offer I-S tuition for certain SAT scores, etc so why not try to lure veterans and their children? Perhaps they, too, have unique things to offer the state U's... </p>
<p>Does anybody know if this new bill will include grad school tuition breaks?</p>
<p>NY Times article:<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/education/09vets.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/education/09vets.html</a></p>
<p>Another consideration is the difficulty of even determining where "in-state" really is for many military families. They are routinely uprooted, sometimes even overseas, with little warning or choice in the matter. Sometimes the families of a deployed soldier might temporarily move in with family back home, wherever that may be. It can be a very nomadic life. I'd vote for granting in-state tuition nationwide.</p>
<p>I totally disagree with regarding anyone with military service getting instate tuition everywhere. It is a totally volunteer military today, no one is "putting their life on hold"- they are earning a paycheck in a field they chose, for whatever reasons. We owe nothing to anyone who chose to join the military- they were never forced to do it and knew the consequences when they signed up. Having to serve in a war zone is a gamble they took when choosing to be an employee of the service. Would all of you support such actions in a peacetime situation? There are many financial incentives for students to choose the military already, we should not burden popular states with the costs of educating those who chose to get money from the government instead of the private sector. Disclaimer- I have nieces/nephews who chose military service and I still don't think they should get extra benefits. Please don't equate patriotism with supporting the military or even everything our government does- a true patriot can be a protestor, working for the best for our country despite the current power stucture. This is not the Vietnam era where people truly had their lives disrupted against their will via the draft.</p>
<p>Agree 100% with the above--and the policy applies to all vets, not just combat vets, so even those who've only sat at a desk in the US for their service would benefit. And I can't imagine why they would necessarily be considered "incredibly valuable high-potential students" . The academic standards for military service have declined a lot over the last few years as the Iraq war has taken its toll on volunteering. And even if you think military service enhances a student's potential, why would the child or spouse of a vet be particularly attractive to a school? This is just a political maneuver by Strickland; I'm sure others will fall in line for fear of being decried by the right.</p>
<p>I took advantage of in-state tuition for family members of servicemembers when I was in Texas-- a bargain! Though I claimed to be a Texas resident I hadn't lived there long enough for UT to accord me that status.
As much as I enjoyed the benefit, Wis75(?) makes some good points.<br>
I'll add (in response to the person that commented that it can be hard to figure out where home is for a military person) that many military claim as their home the first state in which they are stationed that doesn't tax military pay. (I didn't get that break during my first stint in service-- stationed overseas in high tax states, so I continued to pay WI taxes.) Should someone claiming a home based on tax avoidance get a benefit financed by taxpayers in another state? I can see it if the servicemember and family are living in the state-- they might settle there. Apart from policy, as a token of gratitutde it could be nice to have the kids in an affordable school nearby, rather than sending them to the state of residence hundreds or thousands of miles away.</p>
<p>Have you not heard of stop-loss shortages? Many AD cannot retire at 20 or simply resign from the military when their tour of duty is over because there is a shortage of personnel in their particular MOS. They cannot say my kid is in high school, I need to move to a particular state so please assign me there.</p>
<p>Although I appreciate the fact that Ohio is extending IS benefits to military dependents, I don't think that it is only being done as a gesture of thanks to the armed forces. This is a matter of self-interest for Ohio. The article states that there is a reduction of population in this state and that the governor feels that this would be an incentive to retaining/obtaining productive residents. </p>
<p>Many on this board promote diversity as an important factor in considering schools. The Armed Forces has a long history of minority recruitment, affirmative action, etc. Our kids are ethnicity-blind, we don't live in self-imposed race-based areas the way so many suburbs end up being. Our families bring a fresh perspective to new areas simply because we are required to move a lot due to the active-duty member's reassignments. Military dependents assimilate quickly into a new situation. Because the children are often the newcomers themselves, they are very quick to welcome new peers into schools and neighborhoods.</p>
<p>"We owe nothing to anyone who chose to join the military"</p>
<p>Well thats a pretty nasty attitude. I personally believe that we should be giving MORE, not less, opportunities to veterans and their families to get their lives back on track after military service. I'm as lefty as they come, but I find the idea that veterans don't deserve any benefits when they get back from service terribly unpatriotic. </p>
<p>And just to add, I'm a registered democrat and have been to a million and one Iraq war protests...I'm not some flag-waving neocon.</p>
<p>What makes being in a military occupation- learning to kill, etc. more valuable than being in many less well paying service occupations? Please do not equate patriotism with being pro military. Why should anyone who makes their living by being employed by the Federal government, with insurance and other job benefits not everyone else gets, be considered special? Examine working conditions, benefits, job security and all sorts of other factors and you will find many less desirable but needed jobs. Working for the government in the military is not sacred. People choose to join, it is wrong to consider them better/more deserving than others. Military personnel are not the only ones relocated- ask corporate job holders who also move, or lose their job.</p>
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I totally disagree with regarding anyone with military service getting instate tuition everywhere. It is a totally volunteer military today, no one is "putting their life on hold"- they are earning a paycheck in a field they chose, for whatever reasons. We owe nothing to anyone who chose to join the military- they were never forced to do it and knew the consequences when they signed up. Having to serve in a war zone is a gamble they took when choosing to be an employee of the service. Would all of you support such actions in a peacetime situation? There are many financial incentives for students to choose the military already, we should not burden popular states with the costs of educating those who chose to get money from the government instead of the private sector. Disclaimer- I have nieces/nephews who chose military service and I still don't think they should get extra benefits. Please don't equate patriotism with supporting the military or even everything our government does- a true patriot can be a protestor, working for the best for our country despite the current power stucture. This is not the Vietnam era where people truly had their lives disrupted against their will via the draft.
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<p>I think you're overreacting a little bit. </p>
<p>Don't forget a student must first be admitted to that "popular" state school you're so concerned about protecting from the burden of "those who get money from the government." I highly doubt there will be a flood of vets and their kids bumping you or yours out of UMich or UVA.</p>
<p>VA just started offering in-state tuition to service members and dependents stationed IN the state two years ago. I can't see them extending it to any veteran anywhere in the near future.</p>
<p>Some states only offer in-state tuition while you are in the state. Once transferred, if a student stays behind at a state school, they become an out-of-state student.</p>
<p>Some states offer in-state tuition to those stationed there and it remains in effect after a transfer, as long as the student stays continuously enrolled.</p>
<p>There are still some that don't offer in-state tuition to military at all.</p>
<p>With DD#1 - my husband was transferred overseas (alone) after her first year of college. Luckily we had enough notice that I was able to change my residency in order for her to remain "in-state." That was still applicable after we moved after her second year when he returned.</p>
<p>With DD#1 - we were moving the summer after graduation, but did not find out where until May. Luckily it worked out that we were transferred to the state where she had accepted.</p>
<p>With DD#3 - we will be moving at the end of her senior year. I just hope we will find out where before she starts sending out applications, and for sure hope we know before May 1.</p>
<p>The first two did not want to go to any schools in our home state, but the third is considering one there; that would greatly simplify things.</p>
<p>I don't equate patriotism with being pro-military. I don't feel that being a member of the miltary is any more/less noble than any other public service job. HOWEVER, I do feel that based on the nature of military serivce, the lives of service members and their families are often disrupted, especially when soldiers are being deployed half a world away. Seeing that vast numbers of our veterans ultimately end up homeless or living in poverty, it seems like a very sensible idea to make quality higher education accessible when they finish their military service. It isn't about cannonizing members of the military, its about recognizing the unique contributions of soldiers and providing benefits that help them move on with their lives.</p>
<p>wis75, I am speechless...just speechless.</p>
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wis75, I am speechless...just speechless.
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<p>Make that two of us, Ejr.</p>