Albany, New York (March 19, 2013) – In response to the suspension of Military Tuition Assistance (TA) due to the Federal Sequester, Excelsior College today announced a range of steps it has taken to support current and future active duty students, including a “We’ve Got Your Back Scholarship.”

Excelsior will award a “We’ve Got Your Back Scholarship” of $75 per credit to enrolled military students to reduce out-of-pocket costs they will face under suspension of TA. The College, which counts more than 10,000 active duty military among its more than 36,000 students, will also waive the enrollment fee for active duty military now through June 30, 2013 or until TA is restored.

Excelsior is also recommending that current and future students apply for Federal Student Aid by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to speak with one of its military advisors to explore the VA Benefits to which a servicemember may be entitled. Excelsior is also streamlining the process by allowing military personnel to register for courses while they apply to the VA for a Certificate of Eligibility.

“We know time and out-of-pocket expenses are a huge concern to our military students,” said Susan Dewan, executive director of the Center for Military Education at Excelsior College. “Excelsior has a proud tradition of serving the military and we are committed to helping lessen the financial impact the cuts in TA will have on servicemembers. Through the waiver, scholarship and additional financial aid options we are making it possible for our military students to continue to pursue their degree.”

For more than forty years, Excelsior’s credit transfer acceptance policy, including credit by examination, and recognized military training, has accelerated the degree pathway for more than 40,000 active duty and veteran personnel who have earned a degree from Excelsior. This and the personal service it provides to military students are two of the many reasons Excelsior has consistently been ranked among the top military-friendly schools in the country by Military Advanced Education, G.I. Jobs, and Military Times.

For more information on Excelsior College’s response to the Military Tuition Assistance suspension due to Sequester, visit http://www.excelsior.edu/ExcelsiorLife.
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Excelsior
Excelsior College http://www.excelsior.edu is a regionally accredited, nonprofit distance learning institution that focuses on removing obstacles to the educational goals of adult learners. Founded in 1971 and located in Albany, NY, Excelsior is a proven leader in the assessment and validation of student knowledge. It offers more efficient and affordable access to degree completion through multiple avenues: its own online courses and college-level proficiency examinations, and the acceptance in transfer of credit from other colleges and universities as well as recognized corporate and military training programs. Excelsior College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.