Transcript Document

Association of Veterans Education Certifying Officials
Education Service
GI Bill Comparison Tool
GI Bill Feedback System
Robert M. Worley II
Director, Education Service
Veterans Benefits Administration
GI Bill Comparison Tool
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Overview
Data Requirements
Providing Feedback
Reporting Data to the Users
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GI Bill Comparison Tool
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Launched February 4, 2014 in
response to Executive Order 13607 to
implement and promote “Principles of
Excellence”
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Streamlines information into an easyto-use online tool
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Combines resources from more than
17 different web pages and three
Federal agencies
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The tool provides information to
calculate benefits and research
approved programs
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Tuition/fees
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Housing allowance
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Veteran indicators, i.e. Yellow Ribbon
and GI Bill
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Graduation and loan default rates
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GI Bill Comparison Tool Data Requirements
• Data needs are met by
extracting data from the
following sources:
o Web Enabled Approval
Management System
(WEAMS)
o Department of Education
Shopping Sheet
o Department of Education
Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System
(IPEDS)
o College Navigator
*Data will be included in fully developed GI Bill
Comparison Tool
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GI Bill Comparison Tool – How to Provide Feedback
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The GI BillComparison Tool
supports the 2012 presidential
executive order and the
Improving Transparency in
Education for Veterans Act of
2012.
VBA welcomes feedback on the
Comparison Tool and
encourages all visitors to submit
feedback by clicking on the
‘Feedback’ link located at the
bottom of the tool’s page.
Prior to launching the
Comparison tool, School
Certifying Officials (SCOs)
provided feedback on the data
outputs.
benefits.va.gov/gibill
Feedback
If you experience technical issues
or have feedback on how we can
improve the GI Bill Comparison
Tool, please send us an email at
[email protected] with
“Comparison Tool” in the subject
line. Base on your feedback, we
will be making quarterly updates to
the GI Bill Comparison Tool.
Please note this email is only for
website related issues, all
questions regarding GI Bill benefits
should be directed to the “Ask a
Question” section of our website.
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GI Bill Comparison Tool - Reporting
GI BILL COMPARISON TOOL DATA
Data Reported
*JULY 13, 2014
Unique Visitors to Date
280,413
Page Views to Date
443,690
GI BILL COMPARISON TOOL: TOP U.S. SCHOOL SEARCHES
American Public University
Harvard
University of Texas at Austin
Arizona State University
University of Washington
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GI Bill Comparison Tool – Highlights
• Comparison Tool version 1.5 is planned for release within
the next month.
• This version will provide the following information:
GI Bill benefits calculator to provide precise information
related to benefit payments and school costs
Increased search functionality to allow users to search
schools by state
Additional school information on accreditation, Yellow
Ribbon program, and Veteran support services
• Dr. Biden appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” to demo the
GI Bill Comparison Tool on April 16th
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GI Bill Feedback System
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Overview
Intent
Management and Accessibility
Inside View of System
Complaint Processing
SAA Involvement
School Involvement
Reporting of VA Complaint Data
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GI Bill Feedback System Overview
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Launched on January 30, 2014
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Provides a mechanism for receiving, processing, and referring complaints about
educational institutions within VA and to other federal agencies
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Empowers individuals to report their experiences with educational institutions
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Beneficiaries eligible for or receiving VA educational benefits may submit their
experience on behalf of someone else, or anonymously
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Fraud
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Use of deceptive and misleading practices
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Failing to follow the “Principles of Excellence”
• The Feedback System will be used by VA personnel (VACO, ELR, and ECSS’s) and SAA
personnel to track and manage cases submitted by individuals, coordinate with
educational institutions, and provide feedback throughout the process with the
complainant.
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GI Bill Feedback System - Intent
• The Feedback System is intended for complaints directly related to “Principles
of Excellence”
• These types of complaints should not involve or be concerned with the
following:
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VA’s handing of education benefits, not the institution or employer
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Limitations imposed by law (i.e. break pay)
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VA policies
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VA claims processing
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Entitlement
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Eligibility
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Payments
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Debts
These are referred to VA’s Right Now Web or GI Bill Hotline
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GI Bill Feedback System
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GI Bill Feedback System – Inside View of the System
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GI Bill Feedback System – Inside View of the System
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GI Bill Feedback System – Inside View of the System
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GI Bill Feedback System – Complaint Processing
• Routine complaints are reviewed and sent to schools to resolve and
provide a written response back to VA
• Complaints are shared with the complainant to measure their satisfaction
with the resolution
• Egregious or flagrant complaints will be directed to the Regional Program
Offices (RPOs) to conduct a targeted risk-based review
• Complaints will be submitted to a central repository at Federal Trade
Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network where they are accessible by
– Federal agencies
– State agencies
– Law enforcement
• Department of Justice
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
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GI Bill Feedback System and State Approving Agencies
State Approving Agency (SAA) Involvement:
• Institutional data is supplied from WEAMS to help keep information up to date
and ELRs are promptly notified of changes
– Approvals, suspensions, and withdrawals
– Adopting standardized naming conventions
• Promote availability of the Principles of Excellence Complaint System for
individuals eligible for or receiving VA education benefits
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Procedures under development for access to the complaint system and data
for SAA’s in support of compliance survey activities
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Submit complaints
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Risk-Based Program Reviews
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Lash-Up with Accrediting Agencies.
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GI Bill Feedback System and School Involvement
• Schools should adhere to the “Principles of Excellence” to provide highquality student support and services for Veterans, Servicemembers and
their eligible family members eligible for or receiving VA education
benefits. Sign up for POE at [email protected]
• VA requests schools:
– Review the complaint
– Provide a response to the complainant, as soon as, possible but no later than
within 60 days of this notice via email to [email protected] using
the following guidelines:
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Respond to the complainant
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Use school letterhead
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Respond with a proposed resolution
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Reference the complaint case number
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Forward to VA within 60 days of the message
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GI Bill Feedback System – Complaint Data
Complaints by Issue
Financial Issues (e.g. Tuition/Fee
charges)
876
Other
732
Quality of Education
348
Refund Issues
247
Recruiting/Marketing Practices
197
• Approximately 1,731 complaints submitted as of July 13, 2014
Accreditation
152
• Active Complaints: 876 (51%)
Change in degree plan/requirements
144
• Invalid (Non-POE): 687 (40%)
Student Loans
129
• Pending: 74 (4%)
Grade Policy
119
Transfer of Credits
104
Top 3 Complaints Types
Post-9/11 GI Bill
Veterans Retraining Assistance
Program (VRAP)
Federal Financial Aid
• Generated risk-based program reviews: 36
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Release of Transcripts
87
Post-graduation Job Opportunities
80
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Contact Us
WEBSITE: www.benefits.va.gov/gibill
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/gibillEducation
TELEPHONE: 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551)
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