The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity has launched an investigation into allegations that George Washington University potentially defrauded student veterans by withholding thousands of dollars in their earned Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill benefits, specifically their Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA).
In a May 8 letter sent to GW President Ellen Granberg, committee chairman Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) wrote that at the same time student veterans are not receiving their MHA at the full-time rate, the university is allegedly collecting tuition and fee payments as if the full-time rate is applied.
“This alleged discrepancy directly impacts those who have served our nation’s ability to pay their housing expenses, including rent or a mortgage, while they pursue higher education at George Washington University,” the letter reads. “Student veterans will now be forced to pay thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses in order to complete the program. Further, I am concerned that this issue may have occurred in previous years, but was not brought to the attention of the Committee or appropriate entities until now.”
According to a release, the committee received credible allegations that veterans enrolled in GWU’s accelerated Master of Business Administration (MBA) program may be intentionally not receiving the full Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) payment they are entitled to based on information provided by the university, particularly those student veterans enrolled in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Student veteran participants in the Yellow Ribbon Program are now reportedly being informed — days before the start of summer classes—that they must pay between $14,000 and $20,000 out-of-pocket or withdraw from the program because the Yellow Ribbon Program funds have been exhausted by George Washington University, according to the committee.
“These allegations raise concerns about whether student veterans are receiving the full benefits to which they are entitled under federal law,” wrote Van Orden.
GW spokesperson Julia Garbitt told the GW Hatchet that the university plans to cooperate with the House Committee on Veteran Affairs, and that it fully reimbursed full-time student veterans in the accelerated MBA program who received the part-time rate MHA for their housing this spring semester.
Van Orden requested a response from the university by May 13.
“I also request that you provide a detailed plan on how you will resolve and fix these issues to ensure that past and present student veterans enrolled in this and other programs are properly compensated,” he wrote. “I also ask that you address George Washington University’s advertising towards student veterans to ensure accuracy and transparency.”
Van Orden also sent a letter to VA Inspector General (IG) Cheryl Mason requesting a full investigation and review of GWU’s operations as a GI Bill-approved school, which can be found here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectitngvets.com.
