Dive Brief:
- Officials at the American Legion, the National Military Family Association, the Military Officers Association of America and 20 other veterans and military organizations last week sent letters requesting state and federal action against deceptive colleges by the Veterans Affairs Department.
- The groups want increased oversight over colleges receiving GI Bill funds and accused of tactics like deceptive recruiting practices, The New York Times reports, noting that the for-profit and career training sector have long faced accusations of taking advantage of veterans and underserved student populations.
- The Veterans Affairs Department reportedly gives some $1.7 billion in GI Bill funds to the for-profit college industry but hasn't done much to monitor the schools, with V.A. spokesman Terry Jemison telling the Times that the department largely looks to state agencies for that oversight.
Dive Insight:
The for-profit sector's recruitment practices involving veterans and active-duty military personnel have been a source of contention in growing scrutiny from the federal government.
The New York Times reports that, despite facing a cap on the amount of federal funding they can receive, a legal loophole didn't count GI Bill funds toward that. Furthermore, the Veterans Affairs Department is supposed to protect veterans from such practices, according to a Yale study, but seven of the eight for-profits receiving the most funding were under state or federal investigation.
This year's elections could determine how strong that scrutiny remains, but the pressure from veterans groups may see the V.A. finding itself more actively involved sooner than later.
