OT - Student claims University of Michigan discriminates against veterans
Brian Stone, 26, returned home to Dearborn after spending four years overseas with the U.S. Navy.
He was excited to resume his studies at the University of Michigan until, he says, the university billed him as an out-of-state student, increasing his tuition by $10,000 each year.
"And then I got a letter in the mail saying that due to my overseas service that I may be considered an out-of-state resident. I had a $6,000 bill that was left for me," Stone said.
The sophomore went before university leaders late Thursday afternoon on behalf of the Student Veterans Association. Stone believes the University of Michigan unfairly uses its residency policy against veterans with overseas tuition in order to charge them out-of-state tuition...
February 21st, 2013 at 11:44 PM ^
This is such a Michigan thing to do. However, I think the system automatically changes your status. I went on a study abroad for a semester and when I came back I was considered "an out of state" student. A quick trip to the Registrar cleared that up. The office said if you leave AA for the duration of a semester sometimes you are switched. Dumb but whatever. Do the right thing, Michigan
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:08 AM ^
February 22nd, 2013 at 1:02 AM ^
February 22nd, 2013 at 1:20 AM ^
February 22nd, 2013 at 1:43 AM ^
University of Michigan's endowment is 7.8 billion. Where in the hell is that money going towards. As a recent, out-of-state graduate, I can say that the only thing that upset me was a supposedly non-profit organization deferring all of the costs to the students, while having that money in the bank. When the supposed purpose is to educate the students and not to accumulate profits, there is no reason for a public school to have that amount of money in its endowment. Otherwise, come out as a for profit corporation, something we all know universities are anyways these days.
/rant over
February 22nd, 2013 at 9:50 AM ^
...is not exactly the same as having $7.8B in spending cash. There are quite a few restrictions on how the money is to be managed. And frankly, given the shaky state of global finance in 2013, it's probably best for the U. to chart an extra-conservative course right now.
February 22nd, 2013 at 7:18 AM ^
February 22nd, 2013 at 3:18 AM ^
February 22nd, 2013 at 4:29 AM ^
They r pulling so much shit on vets that it's to the point, sadly, this shit ain't news. They, the VA, runs a VRAP program for instance that states certain criteria, i.e., age, school planning to attend, etc., but nowhere does it say when you must begin the pursuit of retraining program. Then suddenly veterans are sent emails and postal services stating if they don't begin schooling within the next 8 days, they r fucked. typical VA ´¨HA HA, just kidding bullshit.
I
February 22nd, 2013 at 9:53 AM ^
...did you save by getting it reduced to in-state tuition? Given that dollar figure, ask yourself again if it was really that big of a pain.
February 22nd, 2013 at 8:41 AM ^
This should be remedied in an appropriate manner, but people freaking out about the general premise that people's residency status can change so fluidly need to relax. In-state tuition to UM is quite a bit less than out-of-state, and I've known of (perhaps apocryphal) tales of people claiming residence with an uncle or cousin just to save on the tuition. So at some point the University needs to make a policy and stick with it. Obviously veterans and people who must travel for their life situation have special circumstances, but at the same time let's wait for all of the details to come out (and not a 300-word write-up) before jumping on the admins.
February 22nd, 2013 at 9:05 AM ^
As a current student-vet I have a couple of points.
1) You can change your state residency when you are stationed overseas. I don't know if that happened here, but you go through the military to file paperwork and among other things have to show that you intend to live in said state when you leave the military. It is an option at least. (I was stationed overseas for almost 5 straight years)
2) I have never lived in the state of Michigan before and am thus classified as an out-of-state student. However, I am using my GI Bill which covers up to the maximum amount of in-state student tuition levels. Additionally, the University of Michigan is partnered with a national education program called the Yellow Ribbon Program which works with participating universities to cover additional tuition fees for veterans that may not be covered by the GI Bill. Thus, the University of Michigan and the Yellow Ribbon program are paying the rest of my out-of-state tuition not payed by the GI Bill (which is the majority sum).
While I do not know this guy, nor the particulars of his case, I am guessing that there is either a great miscommunication being perpetrated here, or there is more to this than is being reported or hombre is telling us.
As a vet, I have found the University and its staff to be very helpful and am extremely grateful for the support they have provided me, both financially and otherwise. While I am not all veterans here, I do not expect that I am the exception. Finally, with the Yellow Ribbon on tap, I really do wonder about hombre's claims here. I do not think the UofM is selective in its use. I am not sure it has the right to be. Other than perhaps the states of Illinois and Texas (I believe Illinois and maybe Texas provide automatic free four-year college educations to all in-state veterans), I have considered the public University of Michigan to be one of the most military friendly establishments I have come across in the public sector.
February 22nd, 2013 at 9:17 PM ^
You have to have a physical presence in a state and an intent to remain indefinitely. If you change your residency through DFAS while overseas based on nothing more than an intent to go to your new state, expect your old state to want some back taxes when it finds out.
February 22nd, 2013 at 10:31 AM ^
... that nothing malicious is going on here. Similar thing happened to me, and I found the residency office to be a bunch of inept, lazy individuals with sinecures. It took me 6 months worth of haggling to finally get my status changed to resident.