Role of State Approving Agencies
History, Functions and Future
Dr. Joseph Wescott II, President, NASAA
National Association of
State Approving Agencies
SAAs in the 21st Century
A New Agency, with roots in the past
“...The members of the armed forces have been
compelled to make greater economic sacrifice and
every other kind of sacrifice than the rest of us,
and they are entitled to definite action to help
take care of their special problems.”
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
June 22, 1944
GI Bill Signing Statement
History of the GI Bill
“One of the finest education benefits ever devised”
1776
Continental Congress approves measure to
provide pensions to disabled soldiers
1943
Harry Colmery (WW-I vet) writes 1st draft of
new veterans education program on hotel
stationery at Mayflower Hotel in Washington
D.C.
Jan 1944 GI Bill of Rights introduced in Congress
Jun 1944 FDR signs GI Bill of Rights into law
1947
Veterans account for 49% of all college students
1952
Veterans Adjustment Act extends many benefits
of original GI Bill to Korean War vets
1953
Original GI Bill ends. 7.8 million WWII
veterans
had participated in the program.
A view of Quonset huts used for temporary classrooms during the boom in
the student population after World War II. This photo was taken in 1948.
History of the GI Bill
“One of the finest education benefits ever devised”
Sen. “Sonny” Montgomery
Maj Gen, US Army (ret)
1966
LBJ signs Veterans Readjustment Benefits
Act—restored educational benefits to
veterans in times of war and peace.
1973
Military draft ends, all-volunteer force
begins
1976
VRBA ends—6.8 million Vietnam-era
veterans had used their benefits ; Congress
passes Veterans Educational Assistance
Program (VEAP)
1985
Congress introduces revamped GI Bill, the
“Montgomery GI Bill”
History of the GI Bill
“One of the finest education benefits ever devised”
Other organizations also played key roles in the success of the GI Bill(s)
1930
Congress authorizes formation of the Veterans
Administration—it consolidated numerous
organizations supporting vets
1945
American Legion distributed 2.7 million copies of
“Gateway to Opportunity”—explained VA benefits
1945
Congress recognizes responsibility of States to
determine education of its citizens
Late
State Approving Agencies (SAAs) created;
1940’s overseen by the Governor, but funded by the VA
SAA
Mission
State Approving Agencies help to make the GI Bill work by
ensuring that students know about and have access to wellmanaged, efficiently-run, educationally-sound programs that
they can trust to help them succeed in meeting their
vocational goals.
National Association of
State Approving Agencies
SAA
Our Partnership with You
Approvals
o Evaluate educational programs for approval.
o Provide written evaluations and approvals to VA and the schools
Inspections and Compliance Survey Visits
o Visit and inspect each active educational institution.
o Assist VA with compliance surveys to insure institutional
compliance for approved courses and programs
Technical Assistance
o Respond to institutional and veteran requests for information and
assistance
o Provide written reports to DVA & maintain records for State
National Association of
State Approving Agencies
The Players
o The “Triad”
o VA
o SAA
o Institution/SCO
o Other players
Mutual trust,
Mutual dependence!
o DOD
o ED
o FAA
o Accrediting agencies
o State L&C agencies
National Association of
State Approving Agencies
SAA & VACO
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Robert A. McDonald
Undersecretary for Benefits
Allison A. Hickey
o U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
o Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA)
o Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO)
o VA Regional Processing Office (RPO) – Atlanta
o Education Liaison Representative (ELR)
National Association of
State Approving Agencies
SAA & VACO
o Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO)
RPOs
 Atlanta
 Buffalo
 St. Louis
 Muskogee
o Services provided
 Guidance
 Instruction
 Coordinates claims processing
National Association of
State Approving Agencies
It Takes A Team!
 SAA & VACO collaborate to help you
VA
VA Central Office
(VACO)
Regional Processing Office
(RPO)
Education Liaison Rep
(ELR)
○
○
○
○
○
Interpret laws and regulations
Maintain integrity of programs
Train the SCOs
Encourage greater use of VA benefits
Help your school better serve veterans!
State Approving Agency
(SAA)
School Certifying Official
(SCO)
North Carolina
State Approving Agency
NASAA
Mission Statement
o The National Association of State Approving
Agencies works in cooperation with its partners:
1. To facilitate the efforts of the state approving
agencies to promote and safeguard quality
education and training programs for all Veterans
and other eligible persons
2. To ensure greater education and training
opportunities that meet the changing needs of
Veterans
3. To protect the GI Bill resources available for those
programs
National Association of
State Approving Agencies
NASAA
Changing Laws, Changing Roles





The Post 9/11 GI Bill
Public Law 111-377
Public Law 112-249
Principles of Excellence (Executive Order 13607)
Public Law 113-146
Post 9/11 GI Bill
 Became effective on August 1, 2009
 A complex program!
○
○
○
○
Many levels of eligibility
Confusing concurrent eligibility
New benefits similar to original WW II GI Bill
Difficult to understand and administer
 SAAs took on new “consultant/trainer” role
Public Law 111377
 Became effective October 1, 2011
 Many positives
○ More programs now covered by Post 9/11 GI Bill
○ More potential beneficiaries
• A “Game-Changer” for SAAs
o Changed State/Federal approval authorities
o SAAs acquired new role of assisting VA with Compliance
Surveys
Public Law 111-377, cont.
 Changed States’ authority to approve programs
○ Accredited, public & non-profit degree programs “deemed”
approved without continuing State review
○ States no longer process approvals for public and non-profit private
institutions
○ Approval AND disapproval authority given to U.S. Secretary of
Veterans Affairs
○ Schools with deemed approved programs provided approval/change
notifications to ELR with courtesy copy of catalog/forms to NC SAA
○ SAAs retained jurisdiction over for-profit schools, and NonCollege Degree (NCD) programs at all schools
BUT…
o Big Change 2013
 Effective October 1, 2013, VA no longer accepted
modification form--all requirements for approval go
to SAA.
 All institutions must submit an approval package to
the SAA.
 All approval related concerns and questions must
come to the SAA.
Public Law 112-249
Improving Transparency of Education
Opportunities for Veterans
Public Law 112-249, signed on January 10, 2013,
mandated, among other things...
o A centralized mechanism for tracking/publishing
feedback from students and SAA
o SAA’s will share with accrediting agencies or
associations information regarding the SAA’s
evaluation of an IHL.
o SAA’s will not approve schools that offer inducements
tied to recruiting and enrollments.
Principles of Excellence
Compliance Review
o Did the school provide a “Financial Aid Shopping Sheet” and alert students
to the availability of the Federal financial aid prior to arranging other
financing?
o Does the school use fraudulent and unduly aggressive recruiting?
o Has the school obtained the approval of its accrediting agency for new
course offerings prior to enrolling students in such courses or programs
where appropriate?
o Are the service members and reservists readmitted to programs if they
have to suspend their studies due to service requirements/obligations?
o Is the school refund policy aligned with the refund of unearned student
aid rules applicable to Federal student aid provided under Title IV?
o Does the school provide detailed educational plans outlining graduation
requirements?
o Does the school have a point of contact for academic and financial
advising to assist service member and veteran students and their families?
In-State
Residency
In State Residency for Veterans
o S.2450 (H.R.4841) – Veterans’ Access to Care
through Choice, Accountability, and
Transparency Act of 2014
o All states are now compliant with the
exception of Louisiana. (NASAA took the lead
in this effort in February of 2015.)
National Association of
State Approving Agencies
Where We’re Headed…
The Future…
 Our continued close partnership with NAVPA, VA and
VSO’s –working together to truly make things better!
 Compliance Survey Redesign Working Group (CSRWG)
ended last year and JAC (Joint Advisory Committee)
established.
• Congressional Hearing on the role of the SAAs. NASAA
and NAVPA have testified together on pending
legislation.
• New legislation to clarify roles, modernize the way we
do compliance and enhance the GI bill.
The Future
Pending Legislation
HR. 476 GI Bill Education Quality
Enhancement Act of 2015 …
HR 475 GI Bill Processing Improvement Act
Both rolled into…
HR. 3016 Veterans Employment, Education
and Healthcare Improvement Act
The Future
Pending Legislation
S. 1938 Career-Ready Student Veterans Act of
2015
S. 1460 Fry Scholarship Enhancement Act of
2015
Progress through Partnerships
 NASAA, VA, and our other partners continue to work
with Congress to inform the process.
o Assist Members’ and Committees’ staffs with technical advice
and information
o Suggest combined proposals, bills and regulatory changes
 And we look forward to a continued partnership with
you and further accomplishments next year!