Veteran Tuition Assistance and Waivers

The following individual has been designated as the point of contact for academic and financial advising, including access to disability counseling, to assist Service members with completion of studies and with job search activities:

Maria Boutier
Bursar
mboutier@ric.edu
401-456-8130 

This individual will serve as the point of contact for Service members seeking information about available, appropriate academic counseling, financial aid counseling, and student support services. This individual has a basic understanding of the military tuition assistance program, ED Title IV funding, education benefits offered by the VA, and familiarity with services available to assist Service members. This individual is not exclusively dedicated to providing these services and, as appropriate, may refer the Service member to other individuals with an ability to provide these services, both on- and off-campus.

STAP Waiver Process

RI Air National Guard & RI Army National Guard Members

• Student must register for classes first
• Student completes the (online) Fillable STAP Waiver form
  • You will list your classes for the upcoming semester
  • Include your School ID # or DOB on the STAP form
  • Bursar Office will need the ID # or DOB to process the form and indicate the tuition waiver
• Submit completed form to RI ANG or RI ARNG Education Liaison
• Education Liaison will digitally sign on their end and send back to the student
• Student will have to get the completed / signed form back to the school, to be emailed to bursar@ric.edu

Contact Tuition Assistance

The following individuals are the designated RIANG & RIARNG Education Liaisons:

RI Air National Guard – Education Liaison

jorge.febus@us.af.mil

RI Army National Guard – Education Liaison

christopher.a.toti.mil@mail.mil
wilson.a.soto.mil@mail.mil

RIC Bursar Office

bursar@ric.edu
401-456-8130

Before offering, recommending, arranging, signing-up, dispersing, or enrolling Service members for private student loans, Rhode Island College will provide Service members access to a financial aid advisor who will make available appropriate loan counseling, including, but not limited to: (1) Providing a clear and complete explanation of available financial aid, including Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended; (2) Describing the differences between private and federal student loans to include terms, conditions, repayment and forgiveness options; (3) Disclosing the College’s student loan Cohort Default Rate (CDR), the percentage of its students who borrow, and how its CDR compares to the national average; and (4) Explaining that students have the ability to refuse all or borrow less than the maximum student loan amount allowed.

Rhode Island College allows service members and reservists to be readmitted to a program if they are temporarily unable to attend class or have to suspend their studies due to service requirements.

Rhode Island College follows the regulation released by ED (34 C.F.R. 668.8) regarding readmissions requirements for returning Service members seeking readmission to a program that was interrupted due to a military service obligation, and apply those provisions to service members that are temporarily unable to attend classes for less than 30 days within a semester or similar enrollment period due to a military service obligation when such absence results in a withdrawal under College policies.

Rhode Island College does not participate in fraudulent or aggressive recruitment of military students including, but not limited to, providing compensation to individuals for securing military enrollments or engaging in high-pressure recruitment tactics.

Rhode Island College bans inducements, including any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, transportation, lodging, meals, or other item having a monetary value of more than a de minimis amount, to any individual or entity, or its agents including third party lead generators or marketing firms other than salaries paid to employees or fees paid to contractors in conformity with all applicable laws for the purpose of securing enrollments of Service members or obtaining access to TA funds. College sponsored scholarships or grants and tuition reductions available to military students are permissible.

Rhode Island College refrains from providing any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including TA funds) to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance.

Rhode Island College refrains from high-pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, and engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing Service member enrollments.

Rhode Island College refrains from automatic program renewals, bundling courses or enrollments.

Rhode Island College will return any TA Program funds directly to the Military Service, not to the Service member. Up to the start date, Rhode Island College will return all (100 percent) TA funds to the appropriate Military Service when the Service member does not: (i) Begin attendance at the College; or (ii) Start a course, regardless of whether the student starts other courses.

Rhode Island College will return any TA funds paid for a course that is cancelled by the College.

Rhode Island College will return any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least the 60 percent portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. In instances when a Service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, Rhode Island College will work with the affected Service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion.

Tuition charged to a Service member will in no case exceed the rate charged to nonmilitary students, unless agreed upon in writing by both the College and the Service.