Bill would waive tuition for Guard members
University of Maine Chancellor James Page is working with legislators with regard to LD 1343: An Act to Increase Access to Postsecondary Education for Maine National Guard Members. The bill provides for a tuition waiver for 100 percent of tuition costs at any state postsecondary education institution for qualified members of the Maine National Guard.
Page said he supports those who serve, expressing his willingness to look for ways to reduce costs for Maine National Guard members.
“Maine’s public universities are working hard to serve those who have served, increasing the number of degrees and certificates awarded to veterans by 102 percent across our campuses over the last four years. With approximately 200 members of the Maine National Guard among the ranks of our students and America’s strongest commitment to public higher education affordability, we look forward to exploring with the Legislature all viable opportunities to reduce the costs of a degree for the men and women of the Maine National Guard,” said Page.
While the University of Maine at Presque Isle does not keep track of which branch of the military a student may be from, it does have an idea how many have a service background.
“Unfortunately, we don’t collect data on how many of our students utilizing veterans’ benefits are in the National Guard or what branch of the military they serve/served under. However, I can tell you that we have a total of 36 students who are utilizing their veterans’ educational benefits at UMPI,” said Rachel Rice, director of community and media relations at UMPI.
Of those, Rice said 29 are from Aroostook County. The breakdown for all 36 by town is as follows: one each from Ashland, Auburn, Bridgewater, Chapman, Ellsworth, Gouldsboro, Haynesville, Hodgdon, Limestone, Litchfield, Madison, Mars Hill, Portland, Smyrna Mills, Van Buren and Woolwich; two each from Fort Fairfield, Madawaska and Woodland; three each from Caribou and Houlton; and there are eight from Presque Isle.
As of April 29, the bills status was listed on the Maine government website stating the last Senate action: “On motion by Sen. Cyrway of Kennebec, referred to Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs, in concurrence.”
