Newsroom
Occidental Offers Scholarships for Veterans
Occidental College is participating in the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program to assist veterans with funding higher education.
The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. The program allows colleges and universities in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate and fees.
The institution can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses, and the VA will match the same amount as the institution. When combined with the federal dollars, Occidental's contribution will cover full tuition for these students. Occidental has also agreed to provide contributions to eligible individuals who apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program on a first-come, first-served basis, and to provide contributions during the current academic year and all subsequent academic years in which the student maintains satisfactory progress, conduct, and attendance.
"We are proud to be a part of the Yellow Ribbon Program and to make a significant commitment to the women and men who have served our country. We look forward their contribution to the Oxy community," said Brett Schraeder, Occidental's associate vice president for enrollment management.
To be eligible, students must have served an aggregate period of active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, of at least 36 months; or they must have been honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and ahve served 30 continuous days after Sept. 10, 2001. To apply, individuals should contact the Department of Veterans Affairs and complete and submit the application form available online. They will receive written notification explaining the VA's decision regarding their eligibility for the program. If they are eligible, the Certificate of Eligibility will also advise them if their service meets the requirements for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Qualifying students should bring their Certificate of Eligibility to Occidental's financial aid office and ask the office to certify their enrollment to the VA, including Yellow Ribbon--you cannot certify your participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program directly to the VA. Occidental will report this information on your enrollment certification.
For more information on the Yellow Ribbon Program, visit www.gibill.va.gov.