Misericordia enlists in effort

DALLAS TWP. -- Joseph Frank graduated from Wyoming Valley West High School in 2003 and enlisted in the Navy. He was ready to serve his country and now his country and one local university are ready to pay him back.

Frank, 23, is ready to do what many of his classmates did six years ago: attend college.

Thanks to a provision of the post-9/11 GI Bill approved by Congress last year, Frank will be able to attend Misericordia University at no cost. He chose Misericordia University, one of more than 700 schools nationwide that have agreed to participate in the “Yellow Ribbon Program,” for its accounting program and begins classes this fall.

He is one of two veterans who have applied to the Dallas Township school under the program.

The program allows degree-granting institutions to voluntarily enter into a formal agreement with the Veterans Administration to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the highest public, in-state undergraduate rates. In Pennsylvania that is Penn State University’s admission rate.

The institution can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses and the VA will match this additional funding for eligible students. This program is reserved for those who have served at least 36 months on active duty or served at least 30 continuous days and were discharged because of a service-related injury since Sept. 11, 2001.

Misericordia University will pay $4,500 per student per semester with a limit of 25 students. The Veterans Administration will pay the rest. At the University of Scranton, the school has agreed to pay $10,000 for undergraduates and $5,000 for graduate or doctoral students. There is no limit to the number of participants. No other local schools were on the preliminary list released by the VA, but more are expected to be added next week.

Michael A. MacDowell, president of Misericordia, said the decision to enroll his school in the program wasn’t a difficult one, though he agrees it could cost the school quite a bit of money.

“There are costs involved, but we see this as our commitment to pay something back to those who have given so much to this country,” MacDowell said.

In previous GI Bills, enough funding was usually made available to qualified veterans to attend public schools or to use the funds toward a private institution and the student would pay the difference. The post-9/11 bill makes it easier for a veteran to attend private schools or higher-priced public schools for free.

Jane Dessoye, executive director for enrollment at Misericordia, said if the maximum of 25 students enroll under the program, the school will be on the hook for $225,000 each year.

“It has been our experience that returning veterans bring solid academic capabilities and a maturity and drive to succeed. Veterans are, quite frankly, excellent students,” MacDowell said. Frank, of Kingston, hopes to prove that theory correct.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity,” he said, adding that many of his fellow veterans are looking into the program. In addition to the tuition costs being covered, a $1,000 book allowance and housing stipend are also provided if needed.

“It’s really nice of them to give us this opportunity,” Frank said, noting that when he was in high school college didn’t interest him but once he was in the Navy he and others were taught and encouraged to get an education and a degree once they were discharged.

Once he learned of the Yellow Ribbon Program, Frank said, “I jumped right on that bandwagon. It was too good an opportunity.”

The bill gives veterans 15 years after discharge to take advantage of the program and gives the veterans the option of having a dependent use the program in their place.

But with the economy in a recession, MacDowell said the bill is an even bigger help.

“In a time of economic instability, the GI Bill offers veterans a safety valve in the national economy because it allows them to enter college instead of a shaky job market,” MacDowell said.

Clear 29°

News

TO LEARN MORE

Place Quick Ads