BANGOR, Maine — The University of Maine System will extend in-state tuition rates to all out-of-state veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces, the system announced Friday morning. The measure goes into effect immediately, so veterans and members of the military who enroll in any of the system’s seven campuses can take advantage of the new tuition rate as early as this summer.
The measure “not only benefits all the veterans, which is critical, but it will hopefully increase our enrollment,” Sam Collins, chairman of the UMS board of trustees, said during Friday’s meeting.
The UMS board of trustees executive committee voted unanimously to pass the measure on Friday morning. The meeting was called on short notice in order to get the change passed in time for out-of-state veterans who are currently making their decisions about where to enroll this summer and fall.
Joseph Westphal, Under Secretary of the Army and former chancellor of UMS, said this measure sends a strong message.
“I think this continues that tradition that Maine really values the service of the men and women in the military because it’s a sacrifice when you’re costs are going up,” he said in a phone interview.
Veterans who receive GI Bill benefits already received in-state tuition at Maine’s public higher education institutions. The change extends the in-state rate to veterans who’ve exhausted their benefits or who did not qualify for GI Bill benefits.
The university system is acting ahead of state and federal measures that would require almost the same action.
A bill was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 3 that would require all colleges across the country that are eligible for GI Bill benefits to give veterans in-state tuition rates no matter what state they live in according to the Washington Post. The bill, which was introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud last year, must still be passed by the Senate and signed by the president before it becomes law.
A separate bill has been proposed in the Maine House of Representatives that would require a change that is almost identical to the measure the UMS passed. If this bill passes, not only the UMS, but also the Maine Community College System and Maine Maritime Academy will be required to offer in-state tuition to all veterans. The bill is scheduled to have a public hearing on March 3.
There are 19 veterans who are currently enrolled at UMS campuses and are paying the out-of-state rate. If they were paying in-state fees, the system would see a reduction in revenue of about $200,000, according to the agenda for UMS’s executive committee meeting.
The UMS board of trustees also passed a resolution that directs the system to support veterans “through proactive recruitment, enrollment and provision of a broad range of services and supports.”
“We want to make sure the UMS’s seven universities are embracing, welcoming,” veterans, said Gregory Johnson, the trustee who presented both the tuition change and the resolution.
“My concern was, we’ve withdrawn from Iraq, we’re now withdrawing from Afghanistan…as these people return home and we don’t have a shooting war going on, we don’t want the focus to wane,” Johnson said.
“You go through a searing experience like that,” he said, referring to active duty, “you’re a changed person.”
