Since the beginning of August, Brett Harden has had a significant charge in his Ohio University financial account with no way to pay it off.
Harden is one of many OU student veterans studying under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill who are waiting on reimbursement to pay for their educations and living expenses.
“If I don’t get these payments, I know I won’t have enough money for my classes,” Harden said. “So I need this money so I can actually start buying everything.”
After applying in July, Harden has waited almost three months to get his payments so that he can pay for his books and tuition.
Under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, students, for up to 36 months, will receive full tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance and an annual book and supplies maximum stipend of $1,000.
Though Harden has not been given a deadline for when his payments will be received, it is a process that typically takes two weeks, said Debra Benton, University Registrar.
“Nothing is really prompt, but if you call and give them hell, they’ll help you out,” said Eric Burke, an OU student and previous Sgt. in the Army Infantry.
Some students across West Virginia and Ohio are waiting even longer for reimbursements after about 300 G.I. Bill benefit registration papers were lost during the relocation of a national Department of Veteran Affairs.
“(The government) doesn’t give a shit, but we’re used to that,” said Ethan Kaiser, a veteran and a junior studying criminology and history.
However, no students have contacted OU’s Office of the Bursar with complaints about this delay, so the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office doesn’t believe any OU students were affected, Benton said.
“Our office has always worked with students affected by any delay,” said Sherry Downs, University Bursar. “We will waive late fees and remove financial holds so students aren’t negatively impacted.”
Though OU has promised to work with students, there might be additional late financial aid payments resulting from the lost records.
“What was brought to light in the process of this transfer was that other payments that are delayed payments on to (the) schools might be delayed (for students) — we don’t know if that’s going to happen, or who will be affected if it does,” said Mike McKinney, communications director for the Ohio Department of Veteran Affairs.
Ohio’s Board of Regents issued a statement to Ohio University presidents in August asking them to keep students enrolled despite delayed payments.
“We ask that you allow the affected student veterans at your school to continue with their course schedules and regular enrollment despite the temporary delay in the issuance of Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits,” the memo read.
The university’s partnerships with the Department of Veteran Affairs have made students more concerned about meeting their rent payments, rather than tuition payments.
Some properties are willing to work with the students to make these payments. A similar problem arose last year when a student living in a property overseen by University Commons couldn’t make the monthly payment because of a delay in financial aid.
“If this were to happen, I will see how the owner wants to handle it,” said Diana Folton, leasing agent for University Commons. “Owners are usually flexible with that. They understand what the student is going through.”
sj950610@ohiou.edu
