If Illinois US Sen. Dick Durbin gets his way, Ashford University will no longer qualify to receive G-I Bill benefits for its students. According to a press release from his office, an agency in California has denied the company's application to remain eligible for funding. The for-profit school is based in California.
Today (Friday, Feb. 23, 2018), WVIK News received an email message from Bridgepoint Education, Ashford's owner. Here is the main part of that message:
"On February 21, 2018, the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Affairs (CSAAVE) sent Ashford University a notification that, at this time, CSAAVE intends not to act on approving Ashford, and referred us back to the VA.
"A copy of this letter is attached. We continue to act in good faith in pursing approval in California. We have cooperated fully with the application process and provided all the information we believe has been requested of us. We will continue to work with California to better understand their questions and seek further guidance.
"We have not lost our GI Bill eligibility. Ashford University is currently approved to offer VA education benefits through the Arizona SAA and the Iowa SAA.
"We continue to have litigation pending against the Veteran’s Administration. In response to our litigation, the VA agreed on December 6, 2017 to voluntarily stay their efforts to suspend GI Bill eligibility for Ashford University students. The Veterans Benefits Administration within the VA has assured Ashford University they will continue to pay GI Bill benefits during this process.
"In addition, your statement regarding Iowa is incorrect: 'When Ashford closed its main campus in Clinton, Iowa, a state agency withdrew approval of veteran’s benefits. Ashford challenged that decision in federal court, but lost. So the university applied to the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education.' This was not a federal court case and Ashford did not lose the case. On June 20, 2016, Ashford University was granted a stay of the prior decision to withdraw approval by the Iowa Department of Education, and that stay from Iowa is still effect [sic].
"The quality and value of Ashford University’s academic programs available to military service members and student veterans remains unquestioned. More than 5,000 veterans, military service members, students, and supporters signed a recent online petition urging the VA to allow veterans to choose Ashford University for their education." (All emphses are Bridgepoint's.)
Also, the letter referenced in the email was not attached, but WVIK News has requested it.
(Previous version)
Ashford University will no longer qualify to receive G-I Bill benefits for its students. Illinois US Senator Dick Durbin says an agency in California has denied the company's application to remain eligible for funding. The for-profit school is based in California.
When Ashford closed its main campus in Clinton, Iowa, a state agency withdrew approval of veterans benefits. Durbin's office says Ashford challenged that decision in federal court, but lost. So the university applied to the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education.
Ashford, has a long history of exploiting the men and women who have served our country in uniform in order to pocket millions in federal G-I Bill education benefits.
Calling it a "predatory company, " Durbin says Ashford, "has a long history of exploiting the men and women who have served our country in uniform in order to pocket millions in federal G-I Bill education benefits."
Durbin has asked the Department of Veterans Affairs to stop sending G-I Bill funds to Ashford. He also wants the VA to help veterans who are currently enrolled at Ashford and may no longer receive tuition assistance.
