University College, the adult, evening and continuing education division at Washington University in St. Louis, will participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program beginning this fall, allowing eligible U.S. veterans to attend University College with no out-of-pocket expenses for tuition or fees.

Through the program, the federal government matches any financial aid that participating colleges pledge to eligible veterans above the base educational benefits in the new G.I. Bill. Based on University College’s 50 percent matching contribution, students who are eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program can receive a full scholarship.

“University College is ideally situated to provide continuing educational opportunities to eligible U.S. veterans,” said Robert E. Wiltenburg, PhD, dean of University College.

“We have the richest variety of courses and programs in the St. Louis region, and, to take a couple of examples, our Master’s in International Affairs and Bachelor’s in Global Leadership and Management, along with the depth of our language offerings, make University College well positioned to meet the needs of our military students,” Wiltenburg said.

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows degree-granting institutions of higher learning in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to fund tuition expenses for eligible veterans.

University College will provide matching funds for up to 100 eligible undergraduates and 100 eligible graduates.

Details and eligibility guidelines for Post-9/11 benefits, including the Yellow Ribbon Program, can be found at gibill.va.gov.

About University College

Originally founded in 1853 to serve the diverse educational needs of the St. Louis area, Washington University continues to grow and thrive more than 150 years later. The first educational step of the fledgling university, on Oct. 22, 1854, was to establish an evening program. Washington University Extension, addressing the needs of local teachers, was begun in 1908, and, after much expansion and diversification, became University College in 1931. Then and since, people of all ages attend Washington University through University College, earning associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, or certificates, or taking courses for personal enrichment. For more information about University College, visit ucollege.wustl.edu or call (314) 935-6700.