Indiana Republican Legislation Would Restore GI Bill Funds For ITT Tech Student Veterans

Indiana’s Republican congressional delegation has filed legislation to help veterans who were students at ITT Technical Institute when the for-profit college suddenly shut down last week.

U.S. Rep. Luke Messer says the intent is to fully restore GI Bill educational benefits to students attending a college or university that closes.

Student veterans could then apply to a new school with full benefits.

The bill would apply to the nearly 7,000 veterans who were enrolled at ITT Tech when it shut down. In Indiana, an estimated 300 student veterans were enrolled in one of six ITT campuses when the college-chain closed.

“Thousands of veterans invested their time and educational benefits to attend ITT Tech, and now they are left without a degree or path forward,” Messer said in a statement. “As part of our enduring commitment to America’s veterans, we must be ready to assist the servicemen and women who use their benefits to pursue a degree at an institution that has failed.”

ITT Tech has been the subject of numerous state and federal investigations in recent years.

Last month the U.S. Department of Education prevented the chain from enrolling any new students who pay for tuition with federal financial aid. That led ITT Tech to close its
136 locations and its corporate office in Carmel on Sept. 6.

Last week Gov. Mike Pence sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs asking them to reinstate GI Bill benefits for ITT student veterans who had not yet obtained a degree or credential from the college when it closed.