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State Veterans Association Seeks to Protect Texas Hazlewood Fund for Free College Tuition

Posted byHoumanitarian
Lone Star Veteran's Association use social media to petition for support
Lone Star Veteran’s Association uses social media to petition for support

Edel Howlin, KUHF Public Radio
For over 90 years Texas has offered veteran’s free college tuition under the Hazlewood Act. Amongst other things it gives veterans 150 hours of free tuition. In 2009 the act was expanded to allow unused hours to transfer to a veteran’s spouse or child. But now the costs of this act are spiraling and veterans want to make sure Hazlewood is protected.

Brian Wilson from Lone Star Veterans would say Texas vets are upset right now.
“There’s lots of veterans who use the Hazlewood Act to go get a graduate degree … Not every veteran qualifies for the GI Bill so you’ll see a lot of veterans who say, ‘The Hazlewood Act is the only real source I have to get an education as a veteran in the State of Texas.’”

Also: Bills Aim to Help Universities Fund Veteran Program
(Texas Tribune)

The Hazlewood Act allowed Gulf War Veteran Tommy McClung to get his graduate degree. Meanwhile his unused hours were transferred to his daughter under the legacy part of the Act. He feels it’s an adequate reward for his service.

“When I left my wife and children that morning, the pain that you see on people’s faces that you love just by your separation and knowing that the burdens they have to carry while you are gone. I think the recognition of the Hazlewood Act that extends beyond the veteran is very appropriate.”

But the state is hurting from the cost. In 2011 the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, or THECB, put the cost of both acts at $75 million dollars. In 2012 that jumped to $111 million.

While that $111 million is about 2% of the overall net tuition costs and fees that Texas universities receive that kind of growth is not sustainable. Which is something the THECB explained to the Senate Committee on Higher Education this month.
(Read and hear more of this story at KUHF Public Radio)

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