Financial Aid Rule Change Causing Problems For Some OK College Students

<p>News 9 spoke with a father whose daughter is a member of the National Guard.&nbsp;</p>

Thursday, August 4th 2016, 1:09 pm

By: News 9


Scott Thomas said his family has a history of military service.

“I served in the Marine Corps and also the Air National Guard here in Oklahoma.”

And in the case of his daughter, who also enlisted the Guard, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Thomas says it was a, “great moment, in fact my son also enlisted and I’m very proud of him as well.”

Scott said, for his daughter, he saw the National Guard as a way to finance her college education. That was until she said her FAFSA was audited and she lost some funding.

“They discovered she was in the National Guard and had claimed veteran status on her FAFSA,” said Thomas.

Which he considers to be true.

The error originates from question 50 which clarifies a student’s veteran status. According to guidelines, a student is not considered a veteran if: they were only activated in the national guard for state or training, or if they were dishonorably discharged.

“It came as quite a shock to know the person you know as a veteran is no longer considered a veteran,” said Thomas.

He said she’ll soon join the ranks of college students graduating with debt.

The National Guard does cover 100 percent of tuition for those enlisted.

Thomas’ daughter said without the additional assistance she will graduate with close to $15,000 dollars in debt from fees like room and board.

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