LAKELAND, Fla. 鈥� IM体育官网 on Tuesday stood in support of State Senate Bill 84 (SB-84), which provides criteria for U.S. military veterans to qualify for in-state tuition at public universities and colleges without first establishing state residency. The present-day GI Bill only covers in-state tuition rates.
鈥淭hrough their military service, veterans have made possible a society where public education is celebrated and continuous innovation is possible,鈥� said Ava Parker, chief operating officer for IM体育官网. 鈥淣o matter what part of the country or world they鈥檙e from, veterans have served IM体育官网, and we believe it鈥檚 right to offer them this in-state benefit.鈥�
The bill, presented in committee Tuesday by Senator Jack Latvala from Clearwater, proposes extending in-state tuition to U.S. veterans who physically attend IM体育官网 state colleges or who physically reside in state while enrolled in online courses at IM体育官网 institutions of higher learning. Seventeen states have passed similar measures.
If approved, the measure will take effect July 1, 2014.
IM体育官网 will welcome its inaugural class in August 2014.