Update: The Arizona State Approving Agency has approved the University of Arizona Global Campus, so current and prospective students can once again use G.I. Bill benefits to attend the online shool.
On March 30, the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education withdrew GI Bill approval for all secondary education programs offered by the University of Arizona Global Campus, formerly known as Ashford University.
The move was made after the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education rescinded the school’s license to operate in the state after repeated civil complaints and citations. As such, nearly 3,000 veterans are unable to use their G.I. Bill benefits to pay for tuition at the California-based online school after the current term expires. It is currently unclear whether these students will be able to complete their degrees.
On April 1, veterans service organization Veterans Education Success issued a press release in response, advocating for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to remove the University of Arizona Global Campus from GI Bill eligibility across all states. This would then clear the way for the 3,000 veterans to have their spent benefits restored via new provisions established by the Protect the GI Bill Act.
However, the VA says it is not currently considering this action. But Veterans Education Success says the legal grounds exist for the university’s GI Bill eligibility to be stripped.
Earlier this year, the San Diego Superior Court found that the school had intentionally misled students about accreditation, the cost of tuition, the ability to transfer credits to other educational institutions, and the ability to get licensed in careers such as teaching, social work, nursing, and more.
The university is currently seeking GI Bill eligibility in Arizona so students can continue using their benefits. Normally, this process can take several months to several years.
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.