On February 1, 2018, Ashford University reopened the enrollment process for applicants who wish to make use of their GI Bill benefits. We made the decision to reopen new enrollments following a thorough review and analysis of the current status of administrative and legal proceedings. New students who wish to use their GI Bill benefits at Ashford University will be asked to acknowledge a detailed “VA Disclosure Acknowledgement” prior to enrollment.

The quality and value of Ashford University’s academic programs available to military service members and student veterans remains unquestioned. More than 5,000 veterans, military service members, students, and supporters signed a recent online petition urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to allow veterans to choose Ashford University for their education. The university organization includes military-focused teams dedicated solely to understanding and supporting the unique needs of service members and veterans.

Ashford employees take special pride in helping those who serve or have served our country achieve their educational goals. Many of these staff members are veterans themselves. In that spirit, the university will continue to pursue every available option in order to protect the right of our student veterans to choose education institutions that are focused on their success.

Additional Background

Although not required to do so, on November 14, 2017, Ashford University temporarily suspended the enrollment of student veterans. Since that time, we have received more than 900 requests from veterans wishing to pursue their academic studies at Ashford.

In response to our litigation, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) agreed on December 6, 2017 to voluntarily stay their efforts to suspend GI Bill eligibility for Ashford University students. That voluntary stay was conditioned on Ashford’s agreement to submit an application for approval from the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education (CSAAVE).  Even though Ashford University has already been approved by the Arizona Department of Veterans Services State Approving Agency and the Iowa Department of Education, we agreed to seek an additional approval from California and have since submitted an application to California. The Veterans Benefits Administration within the VA has assured Ashford University they will continue to pay GI Bill benefits while we seek this additional approval.

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