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Post 9/11 Yellow Ribbon

This presents a broad overview of Chapter 33 Yellow Ribbon and may not be relevant in all situations. Please contact your Education Liaison Representative for any needed clarification

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Summary of Yellow Ribbon Program

• Allows private IHL schools to enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the tuition/fee national cap of $ 18,077.50

• Allows public IHL schools to enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed in-state residence tuition and fees

• Institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution.

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The IHL Must Agree to:

• Provide contributions to eligible individuals who apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program on a first-come first-served basis, regardless of the rate at which the individual is pursuing training in any given academic year.

• Provide contributions during the current academic year and all subsequent academic years in which the IHL is participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program and the student maintains satisfactory progress, conduct, and attendance.

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Per the Yellow Ribbon Contract, IHL Must Agree to:

• Make contributions toward the program on behalf of the individual in the form of a grant, scholarship, etc;

• State the dollar amount that will be contributed for each participant during the academic year;

• State the maximum number of individuals for whom contributions will be made in any given academic year.

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Yellow Ribbon Contributions

• In the Yellow Ribbon Program Agreement signed with VA, IHLs may designate how they will make contributions to students, either by direct grant, scholarship, or otherwise.

• Funds received directly or indirectly from Federal sources (including Title IV funds) may not be counted toward the IHL's contributions to a Yellow Ribbon Program participant. IHLs can only use unrestricted funds as the source of the contributions. "Unrestricted funds" means funding that is available to the IHL without any conditions on its use (i.e., designated for use by a specific individual or a specific group of individuals).

• A scholarship from a third party sent directly to an IHL on behalf of an individual or specific group of individuals may not be included as part of the IHL's Yellow Ribbon Program contributions for the specified individual(s). However, funds received from a third party that are restricted for use in the Yellow Ribbon Program may be counted towards the IHL's contributions to a Yellow Ribbon Participant.

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Who Is Eligible?

Only veterans entitled to the maximum benefit rate (100%), based on service requirements, may receive this funding.

Dependent children eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill if the service member is qualified under the eligibility criteria listed above.

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Yellow Ribbon Search Link

• After your school has entered into a Yellow Ribbon Agreement with the VA, your school will be listed on www.gibill.va.gov.

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2012-2013 Yellow Ribbon Agreement

• The 2012/2013 Yellow Ribbon Agreement was due by May, 23, 2012

• The Agreement, along with comprehensive instructions and FAQ’s, are located on the GIBILL website http://www.gibill.va.gov/school-certifying-officials/yellow-ribbon-agreement/

• All questions pertaining to the YR Agreement should be directed to the YR team yellow.ribbon@va.gov All questions pertaining to properly reporting YR certifications should be directed to California Education Services.

• The Agreement covers the period 8/1/2012 through 7/31/13. Note: Terms that span 8/1 fall under the 2011/2012 YR Agreement. Terms that begin on or after 8/1 fall under the 2012/2013 YR Agreement.

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How To Certify Yellow Ribbon

There are 5 Factors to Consider When Calculating Yellow Ribbon

1. What are the reported charges?

2. What charges will VA pay?

3. What is the unmet charge?

4. Up to 50% of the unmet charges are reportable (Not to exceed the contract maximum!)

5. What is the contract maximum?

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Yellow Ribbon Example For a Private IHL

Veteran A is enrolled in 12 units for the Fall 2012 term. Reported T&F’s are $10,000.00. Per your contract, the yearly maximum is $5,000.00

1. What will VA pay? $10,000.002. What is the unmet charge? $0

Note: The student now has a remaining balance of $8,077.50 for T&F ($18,077.50-$10,000.00) for the remainder of the academic year.

3. There is no unmet charge, this student is not a YR candidate for this period of enrollment.

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Yellow Ribbon Example For a Private IHL

The same student is enrolled in 12 units for the Spring 2013 term. Reported T&F’s are $10,000.00. Per your contract, the yearly maximum is $5,000.00

1. What will VA pay? $8,077.50 (The remaining amount calculated from the Fall term)

2. What is the unmet charge? $1,922.50 (The reported T&F – what VA will pay. $10,000.00-$8,077.50=$1,922.50)

3. You would report $961.25 for YR, which is 50% of the unmet charge. Note: The student has a remaining YR balance of $4,038.75 for the summer term

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Yellow Ribbon Example For a Private IHL

Veteran B is enrolled in 12 units for the Fall 2012 term. Reported T&F’s are $15,000.00. Per your contract, the yearly maximum is $5,000.00

1. What will VA pay? $15,000.00 2. What is the unmet charge? $0

Note: The student now has a remaining balance of $3,077.50 for T&F ($18,077.50-$15,000.00) for the remainder of the academic year.

3. There is no unmet charge, this student is not a YR candidate for this period of enrollment.

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Yellow Ribbon Example For a Private IHL

The same student is enrolled in 12 units for the Spring 2013 term. Reported T&F’s are $15,000.00. Per your contract, the yearly maximum is $5,000.00

1. What will VA pay? $ 3,077.50 (The remaining amount from the fall term)

2. What is the unmet charge? $11,922.50 (The reported T&F – what VA will pay. $15,000.00-$3,077.50=$11,922.50)

3. 50% of the unmet charge is $5,961.25. However, your contract maximum is $5,000.00, which you cannot exceed for the academic year. You would report $5,000.00 for YR. Note: There are no remaining YR funds for the summer term.

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Yellow Ribbon Example For a Private IHL

4. The remaining account balance of $ 961.25 will be negotiated between the school and the student. The remaining account balance is the money left over after the YR match is paid.

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Yellow Ribbon Considerations

1. Does your school keep a record of requests to participate in YRP and document observation of the first come, first served rule?

2. How does your school publicize YRP to incoming students? Are they made aware of the program and is the information sufficient to fully inform students of the program’s provisions and how the program is administered at the school?

3. Does your school verify that their funding source for YRP is at their complete discretion and not from a restricted funding source?

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Yellow Ribbon Considerations

4. Is school’s record keeping system sufficient to verify that the school is meeting it’s contractual requirements under YRP?

5. Is the institution listed on the GI Bill web site as a participant in the YRP?

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Yellow Ribbon Central Office Information

Yellow Ribbon Program corporate mailbox:

yellow.ribbon@va.gov

US Postal Service:

Department of Veterans Affairs Education Service (Yellow Ribbon Program) 810 Vermont Ave NW Washington, DC 20420

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QUESTIONS?