HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — Many Virginia military families are frustrated and concerned following changes to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program that were enacted when the state budget was signed.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin acknowledged the program was putting a strain on Virginia colleges and universities and announced that a task force would look into the program. Friday he announced its first meeting and who would be on the task force.
10 On Your Side interviewed a student who hopes she’s grandfathered into the program because she was signed up before the May 15 deadline, but is unsure.
“Growing up without a father was very different and hard,” said Lauren Fenty. “There are many things that other children got to experience and have that I didn’t, but one thing that I was guaranteed was this benefit.”
Lauren Fenty’s father, Joseph, was killed in Afghanistan when she was 28 days old.
Under the previous terms of the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, Lauren could have her tuition waived for up to eight semesters at a public college or university in Virginia.
However, following changes to the program when the budget was signed, she’s unsure if that’s possible now.
Her mom, Kristen Fenty, is now one of the members on the task force offering feedback on the program.
“Folks are very nervous,” said Kristen. “There are there are people who have made Virginia their home. They are part of the industry that supports the defense sector in this area and they made a choice to stay here following their service, partially because of this benefit.”
The program has seen significant growth over the past five years, and it’s becoming more difficult for Virginia’s colleges and universities to absorb the costs.
According to the State Council for Higher Education for Virginia, program waivers totaled nearly $65 million.
The governor proposed increases to funding for the program in his budget amendments, but those weren’t accepted.
He then signed an executive directive, which established a task force to look into the issue.
Friends of VMSDEP co-founder Kayla Owen was also asked to be on the task force. She said there are concerns about how these numbers were calculated, and that’s why their group called for a more comprehensive study.
“The data from, if you look at DVS versus the schools versus SCHEV, you will find different numbers depending on which one of those numbers you’re actually looking at,” Owen said.
Owen said when you use this program for a semester, whether you use it for three credit hours or whether you use it for 25 credit hours, the imputed cost is the same.
“We know that many of the students who utilize this program do so part-time because they’re a working spouse or there are other components in their lives that prohibit them from using it full time,” Owen said. “They are imputing a full-time cost for student regardless of their actual student status.”
Youngkin issued a statement that said, in part, “I am proud that so many Virginians, especially the many veterans who have already reached out to volunteer on behalf of our military families and all Virginians, are coming together to offer solutions to help preserve and sustain this important program for the future.”
He went on to say that “the task force will give stakeholders a venue to provide important information on the program, express their concerns and offer feedback on implementation guidance and suggestions for changes.”
In addition to Fenty and Owen, the task force includes active and retired military leaders, leaders from Virginia colleges and universities, and Gold Star family members. The other members of the task force include:
- General John P. Jumper (USAF, Ret.), chairman-elect of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and 17th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
- President William G. Kelly, Christopher Newport University, a retired Rear Admiral of the United States Coast Guard
- Commissioner Charles “Chuck” Zingler, Department of Veterans Services, a retired U.S. Navy Captain
- Monti Zimmerman, Vice-Chairman of the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations and Virginia National Guard Association
- Director A. Scott Fleming, SCHEV
- President Michael Rao, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Deborah Dickerson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, George Mason University
- President Corey McCray, Paul D. Camp Community College, a Navy veteran
- Dr. Daniel Gade, Board of Visitors, Christopher Newport University, a retired Army lieutenant colonel
- Katherine Martinez, Student Veterans of America
- Robert “Bob” Eisiminger, member, Board of Veterans Services
- Mike Flanagan, COL, USA (ret.)
- Tim Pillion, board member, Virginia Veterans Services Foundation
- David J. DePippo, Quartermaster, Second Class (QM2), USCG.
- Sarah Ross Geisen, Drew Ross Memorial Foundation
- Bre Kingsbury, Navy League of Hampton Roads
- Kayla Owen, Friends of VMSDEP
- Kristen Fenty, Friends of VMSDEP and Gold Star Spouse
- Donna Lewis, Friends of VMSDEP and Gold Star Spouse
- Caitlin Goodale-Porter, Coast Guard Veteran
The first meeting for the task force is scheduled for June 10 in Richmond at the Virginia War Memorial from 2 to 5 p.m.
Virginians who wish to participate can do so by providing feedback to the task force ahead of the meeting by emailing PreservingVMSDEP@governor.virginia.gov.
