New Law Helps Students Regain Their Benefits Over Winter Break

Contact: George Mauzy, 740-597-1794 or mauzy@ohio.edu

ATHENS, Ohio (November 8, 2000) -- Just in time for winter break, Ohio University student-veterans will regain their educational assistance benefits during the six-week winter break thanks to the persistence of Registrar Bill Jones and others.

The Veterans Cost of Living Adjustments Act of 2000 officially became law on Nov. 1 after being signed by President Clinton. It will allow affected students who attend colleges with breaks not exceeding eight weeks to continue receiving their veterans' benefits during that time. During the past two years, Ohio University student-veterans had to register for two or more hours of intersession courses to receive benefits during the winter break. The good news is timely, with the nation observing Veterans Day Saturday.

"I'm overjoyed that the bill is finally law, and I can't wait to see the veterans receive their benefits this winter," Jones said. Since the law is retroactive beginning Oct. 1, veterans can expect to receive benefits this winter, said Jones, whose office sent a confirmation letter to about 400 Ohio University veterans affected by the new legislation.

"This is good news because I won't have to go around searching for money this winter," said Air Force veteran and senior education major Hugh Meyer. "It's been a long time coming." After receiving benefits for more than 20 years under an energy conservation exemption granted to the university, students lost their winter-break benefits in 1998 when the Veterans Administration declared the exemption outdated.

The new law came about after Jones, President Robert Glidden and Vice President for Administration Gary North explained the situation to then-U.S. Rep. House Speaker Newt Gingrich while he was in Athens to deliver the university's commencement speeches in 1998. Gingrich contacted U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, who then drafted a bill with input from Jones and North. Passage of the bill was aided by the work of Barmak Nassirian, associate executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers.The law also has provisions to increase the rates of veterans' disability compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, additional compensation for dependents and the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans.

"There was a tremendous amount of work done to get this bill passed," Jones said. "I was grateful that everyone involved considered the problem serious and wanted to help the veterans. Congressman Ney and his staff along with Celia Dollarhide, director of educational services for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, were very supportive throughout the process."