FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Those who have served in the United States Armed Forces after Sept. 10, 2001, may be eligible for tuition assistance thanks to the University of Arkansas’ participation in the Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program.

The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, otherwise known as the Yellow Ribbon Program, is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning — degree-granting institutions — in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The institution can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses and Veterans Affairs will match the same amount as the institution.

“The University of Arkansas community deeply appreciates the sacrifices and dedication of our nation’s veterans, and the Yellow Ribbon Program provides us with an outstanding avenue for serving those individuals in return,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “We are also pleased to offer a new resource for veterans and military students, the Veterans Resource and Information Center. As we focus on creating opportunities for every student on our campus, traditional and nontraditional, this is another step in the right direction.”

 The University of Arkansas will be able to fund 10 students per year up to $1,200 per student to cover educational expenses that are not covered by the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. Students are placed on the Yellow Ribbon Program on a first-come, first-served basis.

“This program will help pay for extra expenses that the GI Bill may not cover such as housing and books,” said Bryan Hembree, director of academic scholarships. “Veterans will start to consider institutions with the Yellow Ribbon Program more seriously because it shows that we are interested in and capable of helping them to meet their educational goals. In addition to the other specialized offerings at the University of Arkansas, we anticipate more service men and women will be interested in enrolling here.”

The university has additional Yellow Ribbon agreements through the College of Engineering’s master’s programs in operations management. Through this agreement, 25 students enrolled in the operations management program at the Fayetteville site and others around the country would be eligible. Specific site locations in Jacksonville, Ark., Millington, Tenn., and Hurlburt Field, Fla., have Yellow Ribbon agreements and could fund 25 students at each location.

“The Yellow Ribbon Program is a reinforcement of the University of Arkansas' commitment to student veterans,” said Erika Gamboa, interim director of the Veterans Resource and Information Center. “We are working to address many of the issues faced by this population of our student body, and I am excited to work with our veterans in this capacity.”

Only individuals entitled to the maximum benefit rate, based on service requirements, may receive this funding. Eligible students meet one of the following criteria: they served an aggregate period of active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, of at least 36 months; they were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and they served 30 continuous days after Sept. 10, 2001; or they are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on a veteran’s service under the eligibility criteria listed above.