For Immediate Release
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August 3, 2009
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The University of Alaska is now granting eligible veterans, their
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spouses and children in-state tuition at any of the UA system’s 16
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campuses.
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The move was intentionally timed to coincide with the new post-911 GI
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Bill, which offers eligible veterans generous benefits based on the
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highest in-state tuition rates in all states, a housing stipend and
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textbook allowance. The Post-911 GI Bill went into effect Aug. 1.
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“We’ve offered the in-state tuition benefit to active military
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personnel for years,” said UA President Mark Hamilton, who is also a
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retired U.S. Army Major General. “Our veterans deserve this benefit
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every bit as much, as well as our thanks for their sacrifices and
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service.”
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The UA Board of Regents approved granting veterans residency for
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tuition purposes in June. Students accepting the benefit must move to
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Alaska and live here while taking classes.
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There are approximately 1,400 Alaska veterans using GI Bill education
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benefits; about one half of those attend UA. Without the policy
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change, veterans attending UA would have had to come up with the
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difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition themselves, a
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cost of almost $4,000 per semester.
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“The University of Alaska’s policy change, coupled with the new Post
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911 GI Bill, makes it very affordable and attractive for veterans and
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their families to attend UA,” said Saichi Oba, associate vice
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president of Student and Enrollment Services at the UA System.
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It’s difficult to know exactly how many veterans will take advantage
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of the new UA policy and federal benefits, but it’s realistic to
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anticipate an increase, Oba said.
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“In any given semester, we have about 700 veterans enrolled in UA.
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We’d like to see that number increase, so we changed our policy to
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make it more financially attractive to our veterans and their
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families,” Oba said.
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For specific enrollment information, visit or call:
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UAA: www.uaa.alaska.edu/financialaid/veterans.cfm
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UAA Enrollment Services 907/786-1480
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UAF: http://www.uaf.edu/veterans/
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UAF Admissions Office 907/474-7500
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UAS: http://www.uas.alaska.edu/financial_aid/types/veterans.html.
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UAS Admissions Office 907/796-6100
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For more information on VA benefits under the new GI bill, go to
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http://www.gibill.va.gov/
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-30-
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News media: UA Public Affairs Kate Ripley, 907/450-8102 or 907/388-3506 cell.
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NR16-09
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