The Tuition 'Glitch' Is More Like Generosity
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Only in the District would the generosity of private universities be scorned. The headline "GI Bill Causes Glitch in D.C." established a negative tone for Susan Kinzie's June 15 Metro article about the new GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program to support veterans returning to college. The article revealed that private universities in the District are reaching out to veterans with large scholarships. Catholic University has pledged to support 250 veterans. Trinity is supporting 50 veterans with grants of $6,200 each, a total of more than $300,000 in grant aid per year. Gallaudet will support 25 veterans who have hearing loss as a result of the wars.
American University will support 11 veterans in the first year and as many as 32 in future years. Georgetown is extending more than $2 million in veterans' scholarship aid, and George Washington University is offering more than $2.5 million in grants worth $18,000 each.
Where's the "glitch"? Despite the fact that the formula for the District provides less support from the new GI Bill than in other states because of the low rate of tuition at the University of the District of Columbia, the private universities have stepped up with millions of dollars to close the gap for hundreds of veterans in the first year, and these numbers will surely grow. The headline should have read: "D.C. Private Universities Provide Generous Veterans Scholarships."
-- Patricia McGuire
Washington
The writer is president of Trinity Washington University.
