Student Application Policy/Procedures for the Yellow Ribbon Program:

About the Yellow Ribbon Program

Since the 2009-10 academic year, the George Washington University (GW) has been a proud participant of the Yellow Ribbon Program. GW will continue its commitment to the program during the 2011-12 academic year.

In 2008, the GI Bill was updated with the enactment of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, giving veterans with active duty service on, or after, September 11, 2001, enhanced educational benefits that cover more educational expenses, provide a living allowance, money for books and the ability to transfer unused educational benefits to spouses or children.  The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program or YRP) is a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.  This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund tuition expenses that exceed the maximum base pay amount. 

Please note that effective August 1, 2011, the Post 9/11 GI Bill will pay up to $17,500 per academic year for private universities, including The George Washington University (GI Bill Base Benefit).  The VA will, in addition, match GW contributions under the Yellow Ribbon Program.

A. Student Application Policy/Procedures for the Yellow Ribbon Program:

Forms are processed on a first-come, first-served basis with the following limitations:

Undergraduates: 150 students for the 2011-12 academic year

Graduate Students: Unlimited for 2011-12 academic year

The 2011-12 GW Yellow Ribbon Participation Form is available here.

Students should read this entire posting carefully.

Under this commitment, GW will:

• Provide tuition assistance to veterans beyond what they are provided from their base GI Bill rate of compensation.  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will match GW’s contribution dollar-for-dollar up to 50% of the difference between the student’s tuition benefit (which includes the GI Bill Base Benefit) and the total cost of tuition and fees.
• Enable up to 150 YRP-qualified undergraduate students and an unlimited number of YRP-qualified graduate students to receive benefits for the 2011-2012 academic year.  This is expected to cover all YRP-qualified individuals enrolled as degree-seeking students at GW, including Foggy Bottom Campus/Mount Vernon Campus, for distance education courses, Virginia Science and Technology Campus, Arlington Education Center, Alexandria Education Center, Southern Maryland Education Center, Hampton Roads Center, and other GW locations.

Under this commitment, YRP participants should note:

• Pursuant to University Policy, the combination of University aid and outside aid designated for tuition (such as GI Bill Base and Yellow Ribbon Program Benefits) shall not exceed the cost of tuition and fees. 
• Neither non-degree students nor visiting undergraduate students from other institutions are eligible, under University policy, to participate in GW’s Yellow Ribbon Program. 
• GW cannot certify Post 9/11 GI Bill or YRP benefits retroactively. GW will not certify any student for past semesters in which a student may have been eligible for YRP benefits, but did not properly enroll with the University to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Yellow Ribbon qualified undergraduates will receive:

• GI Bill Base Benefit: $17,500 per admitted YRP-qualified undergraduate per year; plus
• Yellow Ribbon Program Benefit: 
  • GW shall provide up to $17,500 per YRP-qualified undergraduate per year, not to exceed the cost of tuition, plus           
  • The VA shall provide funds to match GW up to 50% of the difference between the student’s tuition benefit (which includes the GI Base Bill Benefit) and the total cost of tuition and fees.  In most instances, the VA will be matching GW’s $17,500 YRP contribution.
• The total benefit should, depending on program and course of study, enable most YRP-eligible undergraduates to attend GW at no cost (tuition and fees only).
• Tuition and required fees only are included in these educational benefits.
• Example:  Undergraduate Student A, a YRP-qualified student, has tuition costs of $44,103 per year.  Undergraduate Student A will receive $17,500 as a GI Bill Base Benefit.  This leaves a remaining tuition cost of $26,603.  GW will provide half of that amount in YRP benefits, and the VA will match the other half that is equivalent to 50% of the remaining tuition cost.  In this scenario, Undergraduate Student A will have a balance of $0 for tuition.  

Yellow Ribbon qualified graduate students will receive: 

• GI Bill Base Benefit: $17,500 per admitted YRP-qualified graduate student per year; plus
• Yellow Ribbon Program Benefit: 
  • GW shall provide up to $5,120 per YRP-qualified graduate per year, not to exceed the cost of tuition, plus           
  • The VA shall provide funds to match GW up to 50% of the difference between the student’s tuition benefit (which includes the GI Base Bill Benefit) and the total cost of tuition and fees.  In most instances, VA will be matching GW’s $5,120 YRP contribution.
• The total benefit should, depending on program and course of study, enable YRP-eligible graduate students to attend GW at a significant discount.
• Tuition and required fees only are included in these educational benefits.

• Example: Graduate Student B, a YRP-qualified student, has tuition costs of $22,230 per year.  Graduate Student B will receive $17,500 as a GI Bill Base Benefit.  This leaves a remaining tuition cost of $4,730.  GW will provide half of that amount in YRP benefits, and the VA will match the other half as it is less than 50% of the remaining tuition cost. In this scenario, Graduate Student B will have a balance of $0 for tuition.  

B. Procedures Applicable to Continuing Students:

(1) Continuing students who completed the GW Request for Participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program form for the 2010-2011 academic year, must confirm their participation in the program for the 2011-2012 academic year.  Continuing students must complete and submit to the Office of Veteran Services the GW Request for Participation Form (available here) for the 2011-2012 academic year.  Failure to submit this confirmation in a timely manner will result in the student's removal from the Yellow Ribbon Program participation list.  Students who have graduated, withdrawn, or transferred from GW should contact and notify the Office of Veteran Services immediately.

(2) Once registered, students must, each semester in which they are enrolled, complete and submit to the Office of Veteran Services a GW Request for Certification Form found here.

(3)  For VA certification purposes, students must contact the GW Veteran Services Office if they add or drop courses after their initial registration and as a result, the number of their credit hours changes.   A change in the number of credit hours will require adjustments in your enrollment certification for benefits and could also affect your student account.

C. Procedures Applicable to New Students:

(1)  Students should apply for admission, and receive confirmation of admission, to the program of their choice at The George Washington University (GW) (non-degree students and active duty individuals are not eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program), and they should confirm that the program is a VA-approved program by visiting the Department of Veterans Affairs website (Weams Institutional Search page).

(2)  Students should determine eligibility for the Yellow Ribbon Program on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Yellow Ribbon Program Information web site.

(3)  Students should apply, if they are eligible, for education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

(4)  Students should be sure to make an informed decision concerning their choice of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.  There are typically multiple educational benefit choices for individuals with military experience.  It is our understanding that once selected, benefit choices are irrevocable.  For further information on benefits, visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website.

(5)  Eligible students, upon admittance to GW, should fill out the GW Request for Participation Form (available here)  and  must submit confirmation of their eligibility for the Yellow Ribbon Program to GW's Office of Veteran Services at least three weeks prior to the beginning of the student's academic coursework. For many programs, this deadline is by August 7, 2011 for the fall term and December 15, 2011 for the spring term.  Such confirmation may be in the form of a U.S. Department of Veteran Services Certificate of Eligibility for the Post 9/11 GI Bill.  GW processes the Request for Participation forms on a first-come, first-served basis.  Students may scan and e-mail, fax, or drop this form off at Colonial Central, and a GW Veteran Services representative will contact each student, normally within two business days, to confirm receipt of the form.  Failure to timely submit this confirmation will result in the student's removal from the Yellow Ribbon Program participation list.

(6) Once registered, students must, each semester in which they are enrolled, complete and submit to the Office of Veteran Services a GW Request for Certification Form found here.

(7)  For VA certification purposes, students must contact the GW Veteran Services Office if they add or drop courses after their initial registration and as a result, the number of their credit hours changes.   A change in the number of credit hours will require adjustments in your enrollment certification for benefits and could also affect your student account.