An executive order signed by President Obama aims to protect military families and veterans from aggressive, inappropriate, and deceptive recruiting by higher education institutions seeking military benefits. The executive order will require colleges to provide more transparent information about student outcomes and financial aid, which will help ensure that students are aware of the true cost and likelihood of completion before enrolling; create a centralized complaint system; and direct the Veterans’ Administration to trademark the term “G.I. bill” so that colleges do not create Web sites resembling official government sites to deceptively and fraudulently market veterans’ educational services and benefits. The executive order will also require that the financial aid form Know Before You Owe is made available to every college student who participates in the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Tuition Assistance program and direct the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to encourage schools participating in the GI bill program to provide the form to students. It will also require the DoD to establish rules on access to military installations so that service members are not targeted by institutions known for inappropriate recruiting and marketing practices.
