The Texas Military Forces, University of Texas at Austin, the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Texas at Dallas have reached an agreement that will allow students who serve in the National Guard to maintain their Texas National Guard tuition assistance with no disruption.
“This agreement is in the tradition of UT’s steadfast commitment to our Texas National Guard soldier students. The access to these education benefits and quality higher education strengthens our overall readiness and retention and strengthens the morale of our force,” said Maj. Wayne Peck, Education Services Officer for the Texas Army National Guard.
The Department of Defense issued a policy in March stating that the Federal Tuition Assistance program will no longer be authorized to pay schools that do not provide itemized tuition and fees statements. This policy change would have affected a total of 46 soldiers between the three universities. Those soldiers will not be impacted, thanks to the agreement reached this week.
“The University of Texas at Austin is dedicated to helping students who are active military and veterans and is regularly recognized as one of the top schools in the nation for soldier students,” said Kevin Hegarty, vice president and chief financial officer at The University of Texas at Austin.
“Today’s agreement allows these students to continue to receive all the tuition assistance to which they are entitled and will not cost the university any extra money. The Texas Army National Guard has been an outstanding partner and worked closely with UT Austin to resolve this issue quickly and smoothly,” said Hegarty.