Institutions Unable to Meet New Veterans Information Requirements Must Submit Waiver

Earlier this week, the Department of Veterans Affairs detailed procedures for institutions to request a waiver if they are unable to comply with the new information provision requirements included in recently enacted veterans’ legislation. That bill, the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, was signed into law in January and goes into effect on August 1, 2021.  

The new information requirements are similar to those included in an Obama-era Executive Order establishing principles of excellence for educational institutions serving service members, veterans, and their families.  The new legislative requirements, however, are more expansive.  Students receiving veterans’ education benefits must be provided with a “personalized shopping sheet” prior to enrollment.  The sheet must contain specified information about a range of financial, outcome, and policy matters—including the total cost of the program of study. 

Institutions that cannot meet these new requirements must apply for the waiver before August 1.  The VA will not take action against an institution while its waiver request is pending.  If the request is approved, the institution will have an additional year to come into compliance.  If the waiver request is denied, the institution’s State Approving Agency will be notified and a caution flag will be added to the GI Bill comparison tool.