It took a year for ETSU’s Veteran Affairs Coordinator Keith Johnson to author a tuition assistance law to help students stay in college if they have lost a parent or spouse in the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since its instatement in 2000, three students in the area have benefited from the law, and Johnson estimates that 150 could stand to profit from it statewide.
Meeting regular expenses of tuition, books, and fees is difficult enough, but add to that the financial and emotional pressure of losing a loved one in the military and it can be a college-career ender. Since the five years that the wars have been fought, many students were forced to make the difficult decision between continuing their education and giving their loved ones the proper funeral. Others have had to take on jobs to fill the void for their now single income families.
The measure Johnson drafted; part of the TCA 49-7-102, which says in part any child under 21 years whose parent has been declared a prisoner of war, missing in action, killed as a direct result of injury in certain military conflicts like the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or whose spouse falls under these same criteria, that student may receive a waiver for all fees and tuition to attend any public in-state-university.
Eligible students need only present a certificate to the veteran’s office of their desired university from either the VA that states the student’s parent or spouse was killed as a direct result of injury received in the war, or from the U.S. Department of Defense stating that the student’s parent or spouse has been officially reported as being a prisoner of war or missing in action. Waivers cover all tuition and fees, including textbooks and school supplies.
According to a recent poll in Army Times, Tennessee has lost 62 residents to the current military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Johnson says that if only a few people are able to continue their studies in times of personal loss and tragedy, the time he spent working on the law was well worth it.
For more information contact Johnson of the Veteran’s Affairs office at va@etsu.edu.

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