February 2005 Volume 2, Issue 3
EDUCATION NEWS EXPRESS
MCAS Beaufort / MCRD Parris Island / Naval Hospital Beaufort
GRADUATES FOR 1st QUARTER FY2005
MCAS STAFF
MSgt C. D. Ellard Education Services Officer 228-7754
Allan, SSgt Aaron / BA Liberal Studies (USCB) Blackmon, DT3 D'Monte / Associate of Science / MCAS Branch Dental (USCB) Bolt, GySgt Rodney / Associate of Arts / MAG-31 (USCB) Bowers, Sgt Wendy S. / BS Social Psychology / H&HS Beaufort (Park Univ) Germain, Sgt James S. / AS Management / MALS-31 (Park Univ) Hawkins, LT Christopher / MBA / Naval Hospital Beaufort (Webster University) Jefferson, SSgt Eric / Associate of Arts / H&HS (USCB) Navara, Sgt Jennifer S. / AS Management / H&S Parris Island (Park Univ) Nino, SgtMaj Jesse / BS Management / Currently at MAG-13 - Yuma (Park Univ) Norway, Cpl George / Associate of Science / MAG-31 (USCB) Peck, MSgt Terence / Associate of Science / H&HS (USCB) Richardson, LCpl Michael / Associate of Science / MALS-31 (USCB) Simmons, GySgt Carol / BS Management / H&S Parris Island (Park Univ) Thompson, Cpl Kimberly / Associate of Science / H&HS (USCB) Thurston, GySgt James / Associate of Science / MALS-31 (USCB) Williams, CWO3 Roger / Masters in Elementary Education / MWSS-273 (Wheelock)
Andrea Hodges Test Examiner 228-7474
Kimberly Hill Admin Assistant/ Education Technician 228-7484
MCRD STAFF
MSgt C. Blythers-Thomas Education Services Officer 228-2132
Lifelong Learning Centers Congratulate All Graduates
Jan Wilson Test Examiner 228-2086
REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR UPCOMING TERMS
SCHOOL PHONE 228-7585 / MCAS 228-7062 / MCAS 228-3502 / MCRD 228-7494 / MCAS 228-2659 / MCRD 228-7499 / MCAS 228-2107 / MCRD 228-7102 / MCAS 228-3078 / MCRD 228-7490 / MCAS 228-3700 / MCRD 524-1851 / NHB 522-1183 / MCAS 228-3842 / MCRD REGISTRATION 01 Mar Feb 22 Mar 18 Feb 9 - 11 Now Ongoing Now Now TERM DATES Mar 21 May 20 Mar 21 May 12 Mar 03 May 05 Mar 14 May 05 Ongoing Mar 21 May 20 03 May 31 Aug
Support Staff 228-2152 / 2086 / 3426
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: Kimberly Hill 228-7484
Kimberly.Hill@usmc.mil
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ Park University Technical College of the LowCountry Univ of South Carolina @ Beaufort University of Phoenix Webster University Wheelock College
EDUCATION NEWS EXPRESS
February 2005
Page 2 of 4
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Lifelong Learning Centers
MCAS TESTING INFORMATION FEBRUARY 2005 ASVAB SAT ASVAB ACT CLEP DSST DLPT/Others USCB Placement
MCAS Building 596 Room 211 (Training Building) Mon – Fri 0730 - 1630 228.7474 228.7484 228.7754
07 Feb @ 0800 14 Feb @ 0800 18 Feb @ 0800 28 Feb @ 0800 Every Tuesday & Thursday @ 0800 and 1400 Every Tuesday & Thursday @ 0800 and 1400 As needed (please call) 08 Feb ~ Math = 0900 / English = 1000
NEXT MASP COURSE WILL BE HELD AT MCAS FEB 7-28 SIGN UP NOW !!! 228-7474
ALL TESTING REQUIRES PRIOR RESERVATIONS 228-7474 (MCAS) MCRD TESTING INFORMATION FEBRUARY 2005 ASVAB ACT SAT CLEP DSST DLPT/DLAB Other Second Monday @ 0745 Second Thursday & Fourth Friday at 0745 First & third Thursday @ 0745 Every Tuesday @ 0745 Every Tuesday @ 0745 Every Wednesday @ 0745 As needed (please call)
MCRD Building 923 (DCAC Building) Mon – Fri 0730 - 1630 228-2086 228-2132 228-2152 228-3426
ALL TESTING REQUIRES PRIOR RESERVATIONS 228-2086 (MCRD)
CALL US
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
USMAP BRIEFING / ENROLLMENT FOR MCAS
Wed / 09 Feb 2005 Wed / 23 Feb 2005 Room 204 0900
WE’RE HERE TO HELP
The next USMAP (Apprenticeship) briefings at MCAS Beaufort will be held as indicated above in Building 596, Room 204. Those interested should bring the following: USMC: USN: Copy of Chronological Page from SRB (Get this from your S1) Copy of Page 3 and copy of all Page 4’s
Contact Kimberly Hill at 228-7484 for more information.
Education News Express
EDUCATION NEWS EXPRESS
February 2005
Page 3 of 4
VETERANS BENEFITS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2004
The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004, Public Law 108-454, was signed by the President on December 10, 2004. It provides for the following: The modification of the entitlement charge for those claimants pursuing training under an On the Job Training or Apprenticeship program. Entitlement will now be charged proportionately based on the monthly benefit rate amount paid rather than one full month for each month of training. A temporary increase in the benefit payable to individuals in an On-the-Job Training (OJT) or Apprenticeship (APP) program. Benefits will be increased during October 1, 2005, and December 31, 2007. The monthly benefit will be increased by 10% during each month of the training program. Chapter 30 Dependents Educational Assistance claimant (dependents of Veteran's with disabilities) will see an increase from $574 to $650/month for the first six months of their program, from $429 to $507/month for the next six months of their program, and from $285 to $366 for the remainder of their program. The various State Approving Authorities approve Apprenticeship programs that are competency based and of variable length. Extension of the eligibility period to 20 years for Chapter 35 Dependents Educational Assistance surviving spouses of service members who die while on active duty. All education programs except Chapter 1606 Selected Reserve Program, which was excluded by this law, may use benefits to cover the amount charged for various college entrance exams and tests that provide course credits at institutions of higher learning. Examples would include the SAT, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, CLEP, and AP exams. Entitlement will be charged in proportion to the cost of the exam. The Department of Labor, the Department of Defense, and Veterans Affairs to coordinate information so veterans receive full apprenticeship credit for any training received while in the military. The Secretary of Defense may collect from Guard/Reservists, by any means necessary, the $1200 required to enroll in the MGIB Active Duty Chapter 30 program. Some members of the Guard/Reserve have served 24 continuous months on active duty with no break and may now be eligible to receive benefits under the Chapter 30 Active duty Program. Chapter 30 pays a higher benefit rate than the Chapter 1606 Guard/Reserve Program.
MORE INFORMATION ON PELL GRANTS
The Pell Grant is a need-based Federal grant that is only available to students who are pursuing their first associate's or bachelor's degree. Funds may be used for tuition, fees, books, room, board or other educational expenses. Estimated Federal Pell Grant After you submit your FAFSA, you should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). Your SAR provides you with a summary of the information you and your parents (if applicable) entered on your FAFSA. You will receive a revised SAR after corrections (if required) are submitted to the federal processor. If you change data on your SAR, you must inform the Financial Aid Office of your school so that confirmation of your Federal Pell Grant eligibility is not delayed. An Estimated Federal Pell Grant on your Statement of Financial Aid Eligibility means that you appear to meet the criteria for Pell Grant eligibility, but your school of choice has not yet confirmed your eligibility. An estimated Pell Grant cannot be credited to your school account.
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
Education News Express
EDUCATION NEWS EXPRESS
February 2005
Page 4 of 4
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO TIGHTEN PELL GRANT ELIGIBILITY
CNN.com December 23, 2004 (CNN) -- A change in eligibility for Pell Grants to be announced Thursday by the Department of Education would cut some 90,000 students from the rolls of recipients and affect more than 1 million others, an education advocate says. In addition to those who will lose their grants completely, "we estimate about 1.3 million students will see reductions in their grants from $100 to $300 per year," said Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education, a trade association representing 2,000 public and private colleges and universities. The 5 million recipients each get about $2,500 per year in Pell grants, he said. They are awarded in the form of vouchers that can be used at whatever accredited school the student chooses. The new formula depends on more recent state and local tax data paid by low- and middle-income families, Hartle said. The formula is supposed to be updated regularly, but the Department of Education had not done so for 15 years, he said. At that time, state and local taxes were, on average, higher than they are today, he said. As a result, the recalibrated formula makes it appear that families have more income available to pay college expenses than they did. "It's always regrettable when federal student aid to individuals is reduced," he said. "This shows the perils of not updating formulas for 15 years." Susan Aspey, press secretary for the Department of Education, said, "We're required by law to do this and we can't pick and choose which parts of the law to follow. "Our projections show an increase in the number of students receiving Pell Grants next year and nearly half of Pell recipients are eligible for the maximum award and won't be affected." The program was created in 1972 by former Sen. Claiborne Pell, who, as chairman of the Senate Education Committee, championed its creation. It has proven to be immensely popular, with about a third of college students receiving some aid under the program. Nineteen of 20 of the Pell Grant recipients have annual family income (including that of their parents) of less than $35,000, Hartle said. Still, he predicted the new regulation will have modest impact on most college students. "We don't think many students will drop out of college as a result," he said. Instead, they will likely work longer hours, borrow from other sources such as credit cards or reduce their course load, he said. "It's unfortunate, but the real thing that's unfortunate is that the Pell Grant isn't going up," said Sarah Flanagan, vice president for government relations of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. "If the maximum were making even moderate increases, all these people on the margin wouldn't fall out of the program." The last increase -- of $50 per year -- occurred three years ago, she said. The maximum award is $4,050. The average student graduates from college with $17,000 in debt, she said. But the program, which costs $13 billion per year, is in deficit. Its costs to the federal treasury jumped several years ago, during the burst of the dotcom bubble, when a number of people opted to return to school rather than try to compete in a tight job market. Thursday's change is not expected to curtail the program's popularity. "Even with this change, there will be more Pell Grant recipients and the federal government will spend more money on Pell than it did this year," Flanagan said. Dallas Martin, the president of the National Association of Student and Financial Aid Administrators, said the tax tables used are not reflective of current tax rates. But DOE's Aspey said the tables use 2002 data, the most recent available. In addition, Martin said, the law requires that the formulas be published before July 1. "Publishing the tax tables at this point in time -- in December -- seems to me to be in violation of the statute." Aspey disagreed. "It is the opinion of our Office of General Counsel that this is legally permissible. The law requires us to either update the tables or tell Congress why we're not -- we informed Congress that we were delaying publication until we could review the interim report of the advisory committee. "We have reviewed the report and determined the only option available to us was to update the tables using the most up-todate information."
Education News Express