The University of Central Missouri (UCM) Board of Governors recently approved a recommendation to expand in-state tuition rates to dependents of service members and veterans.

Bill Hawley, vice president for finance and operations at the university, presented the dependent tuition proposal to the board, noting that it aligns with best practices and also is in compliance with Veterans Affairs (VA) requirements related to students who are using transfer of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program. The new policy will be effective for fall 2023.

The measure benefits dependents of active duty, guard and reserve members of the military regardless of the state the military member is serving. It also applies to dependents of veterans who do not have VA educational entitlement and to dependents who have exhausted their VA educational entitlement, according to Hawley.

UCM’s Office of Military and Veterans Services will manage the new initiative.

The university currently offers in-state tuition for all active duty and military veterans and a Military Tuition package that helps reduce costs not covered by traditional military benefits.