Spring Break
Dallas campus creates military assistance fund
Taylor Short
Issue date: 7/31/08 Section: NEWS
The UNT Dallas Campus will be assisting military families pursuing higher education through the new Stars and Stripes Fund.
The Greater Texas Foundation, whose goal is to support initiatives that increase access to higher education in Texas, awarded the Dallas campus money to establish a fund for military spouses, children of military families and soldiers whose GI Bill benefits have expired, or who may have exceeded the benefits or are ineligible for the GI Bill or Texas' Hazelwood Exemption.
"The purpose of the fund is to provide for any shortfall they may have in GI Bill benefits, but we also want to extend the offer of financial assistance to soldiers and also family members who don't get GI Bill benefits," said Gregory Tomlin, spokesman for the Dallas campus. "So, if a spouse of a soldier overseas decides they want to go to college, it would help provide assistance."
Tomlin said there are currently 62 students at the Dallas campus who are receiving benefits of the GI Bill or the Hazelwood Act. The exact amount of the grant is unavailable, but he said it would be enough to accommodate 20 to 25 full-time students.
"This is mainly meant for Army Reservists and National Guardsmen who don't have a lot of extra capital," Tomlin said. "Our goal is to find guys who are just coming off active duty and just beginning to attend college."
Soldiers, military spouses and children must be qualified for admission at the Dallas campus and must provide proof of military service to be eligible for the Stars and Stripes Fund. Only courses taken at the Dallas campus are covered.
Rickey Eddie, the financial aid and scholarship manager for the Dallas campus, said only first-time students beginning this fall semester would be eligible for the fund.
"Given the rising costs of college education, I believe it is of utmost importance to help our servicemen and women reach their educational goals," Rep. Pete Sessions wrote in a letter to UNT Chancellor Lee Jackson. "I applaud the University of North Texas for seeking innovative ways to give back to our military personnel and their families."
President Bush signed the H.R. 2642 on June 30, expanding the bill to include increased benefits to service members who have served at least 36 months after Sept. 11, 2001, and providing the transfer of education benefits to family members after reenlistment. These benefits will not become effective until Aug. 1, 2009.
The GI Bill, established in 1944 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, provides military veterans up to $500 per year for tuition assistance, but the bill does not take into account the rising annual cost-of-living.
The Dallas campus is currently accepting applications for the Stars and Stripes Fund.
The Greater Texas Foundation, whose goal is to support initiatives that increase access to higher education in Texas, awarded the Dallas campus money to establish a fund for military spouses, children of military families and soldiers whose GI Bill benefits have expired, or who may have exceeded the benefits or are ineligible for the GI Bill or Texas' Hazelwood Exemption.
"The purpose of the fund is to provide for any shortfall they may have in GI Bill benefits, but we also want to extend the offer of financial assistance to soldiers and also family members who don't get GI Bill benefits," said Gregory Tomlin, spokesman for the Dallas campus. "So, if a spouse of a soldier overseas decides they want to go to college, it would help provide assistance."
Tomlin said there are currently 62 students at the Dallas campus who are receiving benefits of the GI Bill or the Hazelwood Act. The exact amount of the grant is unavailable, but he said it would be enough to accommodate 20 to 25 full-time students.
"This is mainly meant for Army Reservists and National Guardsmen who don't have a lot of extra capital," Tomlin said. "Our goal is to find guys who are just coming off active duty and just beginning to attend college."
Soldiers, military spouses and children must be qualified for admission at the Dallas campus and must provide proof of military service to be eligible for the Stars and Stripes Fund. Only courses taken at the Dallas campus are covered.
Rickey Eddie, the financial aid and scholarship manager for the Dallas campus, said only first-time students beginning this fall semester would be eligible for the fund.
"Given the rising costs of college education, I believe it is of utmost importance to help our servicemen and women reach their educational goals," Rep. Pete Sessions wrote in a letter to UNT Chancellor Lee Jackson. "I applaud the University of North Texas for seeking innovative ways to give back to our military personnel and their families."
President Bush signed the H.R. 2642 on June 30, expanding the bill to include increased benefits to service members who have served at least 36 months after Sept. 11, 2001, and providing the transfer of education benefits to family members after reenlistment. These benefits will not become effective until Aug. 1, 2009.
The GI Bill, established in 1944 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, provides military veterans up to $500 per year for tuition assistance, but the bill does not take into account the rising annual cost-of-living.
The Dallas campus is currently accepting applications for the Stars and Stripes Fund.
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