The University of Chicago Booth School of Business has expanded its scholarship support for U.S. military veterans who qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program to include students in the Evening MBA, Weekend MBA and Executive MBA programs, the school announced today. In April, Chicago Booth announced an increase in scholarship support for Full-Time MBA students who qualify for the program, which the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs administers.
As a result of the change, Yellow Ribbon awards will be available to all veterans in the Evening MBA, Weekend MBA and Executive MBA programs at Chicago Booth who qualify under VA guidelines, the school said. Previously, those part-time students were not eligible for the awards.
The Yellow Ribbon Program is a supplement to the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. Beginning in the 2011-12 academic year, Chicago Booth will offer $10,000 per year in Yellow Ribbon scholarship support to all veterans who qualify. The Veterans Administration will provide up to $10,000 in additional funding. The Yellow Ribbon awards are in addition to other VA funding available to veterans.
“Veterans constitute a unique asset for society, with considerable leadership potential, and we are pleased to offer this increased scholarship support to them as small payback for all they have done,” said Sunil Kumar, dean of Chicago Booth. “We are grateful for the many sacrifices veterans have made to safeguard our country.”
To qualify for the additional scholarship support, veterans must have served an aggregate period of active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, of at least 36 months. Veterans also qualify if they were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and served 30 continuous days after Sept. 10, 2001, or are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, based on a veteran’s service under the eligibility criteria.
Chicago Booth has an armed forces group consisting of students who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces of their respective countries. The student-led group prepares members for the recruiting process through career coaching, resume workshops and interview preparation. The group also helps prospective military candidates with the Booth application process and helps build a strong professional network of Booth alumni with previous military experience in order to expand career opportunities.
More information on the Yellow Ribbon Program is available at http://www.gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/ch33/yellow_ribbon.htm.
—Prof. Jacqueline Stewart
