U.S. Armed Forces Funding Opportunity Yellow Ribbon Program COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

U.S. Armed Forces Funding Opportunity Yellow Ribbon Program COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog SIPA is happy to partner with many organizations to try and reduce the expense associated with earning a degree.   We recently signed an agreement that is aimed at assisting veterans of the U.S. armed forces and their dependents.   The name of the new initiative is the Yellow Ribbon Program. If you are an admitted student and believe you might qualify for funding, pay special attention to the message below from Jeff F. Scott, the Executive Vice President of Student and Administrative Services.   The program is based on a first-come, first-served basis so it is extremely important that interested applicants submit the application as soon as possible after it is posted on July 15th.   All of the details are below in the message composed by Mr. Scott. I am writing to inform you of recent changes in federal legislation that provide expanded financial aid opportunities to current or prospective students who served in the U.S. Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001, as well as the dependents of these veterans. Through a new initiative authorized by the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, higher education institutions can provide eligible student veterans with a tuition waiver or grant that is matched by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This program, known as the Yellow Ribbon Program, enhances the base tuition benefits provided by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.   More information about the bills benefits and eligibility requirements is available at http://www.gibill.va.gov/. If you are a qualifying veteran, or the qualifying dependent of a veteran, and you are interested in benefiting from the Yellow Ribbon Program in Fall 2009, you must submit an application at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/sfs/docs/veterans/index.html. The application will be available on July 15, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.   As stipulated by the Post 9/11 GI Bill, eligibility for the Yellow Ribbon program is determined on a first-come, first-served basis in each of Columbias participating programs. For more information about Columbias participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, please visit the Veterans page of the Student Financial Services website at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/sfs/docs/veterans/index.html or speak with a financial aid officer at your school. Sincerely, Jeffrey F. Scott Executive Vice President, Student Administrative Services