AUWCL Expands Yellow Ribbon Program for Veterans
American University Washington College of Law is now able to offer expanded Yellow Ribbon Program (YRP) tuition assistance to qualifying veterans. With the full support of administrators, including Dean Claudio Grossman, AUWCL removed the cap on assistance to support an unlimited number of students with free tuition, in conjunction with the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the matched Yellow Ribbon funds.
“I am pleased that AUWCL was able to deepen its commitment to our veterans through the Yellow Ribbon Program. A tuition-free legal education is an amazing opportunity. As an institution, we benefit greatly from the perspective these students bring to the classroom and our community,” says Ryan Bien, director of Financial Aid.
Previously, the program only accommodated 25 students. Current veteran students lobbied for the program’s expansion. They met with the administration, highlighting easy compliance with VA suggestions and regulations and comparing of the law school’s financial aid to other local schools.
One of student veterans, Daniel Jackson, also founded the Veteran’s Law Society. “The availability of the program was one of the most important factors in my decision to attend AUWCL,” says Jackson. “Without AUWCL's participation in the yellow ribbon program I would not have been able to attend law school.”
Jackson hopes to build on the momentum of the expanded program to offer additional support to AUWCL veteran students. He believes that the program will help attract high quality veteran students that would otherwise be unable to attend. Fellow veteran student Kristopher Vicencio echoes his sentiments. “I think long term it will only attract more, and give AUWCL a wider pool of applicants to select from.”
For Vicencio, the Yellow Ribbon Program was also a deciding factor in choosing Washington College of Law since the Post-9/11 bill does not fully cover tuition at private schools without the Yellow Ribbon Program supplemental component.
“The program at AUWCL has given me the opportunity to attend an amazing education institution and become a part of a supportive, yet challenging, community of legal students and professionals,” says Vicencio. “By expanding the YRP to an unlimited number of slots, to cover the full difference between the post-9/11 bill and our tuition, the law school has shown its commitment to the Veteran Community, helping us to transition out of the military, further our education, and gain the necessary skills and knowledge for a very honorable and worthwhile profession.”
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