In an effort to give back to those who defend the freedom of the United States of America, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) is participating in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program on the undergraduate and graduate levels.

SMWC’s participation in this program, when combined with the Post 9/11 GI Bill, means that all veterans who have served on active duty for at least 36 aggregate months since 9/11 and who meet College admission requirements will have the opportunity to attend SMWC tuition-free.

“This scholarship program reinforces SMWC’s commitment to making quality, private college education affordable and our dedication to those individuals willing to put their lives on the line for our country,” said SMWC President David G. Behrs. “We are excited to be able to assist our veterans with the opportunity to experience the unique value of a Woods education for virtually no out-of-pocket costs to the student.”

Effective August 1 for the 2009-10 school year, SMWC’s participation in this program is made possible by the passage of the new post 9/11 GI Bill. Eligible veterans will receive the cost of tuition and fees, up to the most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition at a public institution of higher learning.

Because a private education is more costly than a public one, the Veterans Administration has added a new provision to the GI Bill called the Yellow Ribbon Program. Under this provision, SMWC has entered into an agreement with the Veterans Administration to scholarship up to 50% of the cost of tuition and fees that exceed the standard education benefit. The VA will then match the amount of the scholarship – completely covering the cost of tuition and fees for the veteran.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, which is located on a beautiful 67-acre campus near Terre Haute, Ind., was founded in 1840 by Saint Mother Theodore Guerin. The College offers campus-based undergraduate degree programs for women and distance undergraduate and graduate programs for women and men. The funds available to veterans through the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program will apply towards tuition for any of the College’s programs.

The College is also taking its commitment one step further by offering a room and board grant to female veterans who apply and are accepted in the campus-based program at SMWC. This special grant, which will provide free housing for those female students who qualify, is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

“SMWC gladly works with all the programs offered through the Veterans Administration,” Behrs said. “The Yellow Ribbon Program is the only VA program that guarantees full tuition, but we certainly encourage all veterans to explore the possibility of utilizing their benefits at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.”

Founded in 1840 by Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and the Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is the oldest Catholic liberal arts college for women in the United States. Today, SMWC thrives by offering a rich liberal arts education, scholarships and financial aid opportunities to make college affordable, individual attention, a value-centered education in a Catholic tradition, and a wide variety of student leadership activities. In fact, both Princeton Review and U.S.News & World Report rank SMWC as one of the Best Baccalaureate Colleges in the Midwest.

In 1973, the College introduced one of the first independent study programs in the nation, the Woods External Degree (WED) Program. Through the WED program, women and men can earn a college degree at their own pace in a wide variety of majors. The College also uses distance education in its six master’s degree programs in education, leadership development, Earth literacy, pastoral theology, art therapy and music therapy.

The College is committed to making private higher education affordable. Approximately 95% of campus-based undergraduate students at SMWC receive academic or need-based financial aid, and, next year, institutional aid will exceed $2.8 million. In addition, the College has partnered with Ivy Tech Community College to provide Ivy Tech graduates with transfer grants that can be applied towards the cost of tuition for SMWC’s campus-based program or the WED program.

The scholarship program applies to the campus-based undergraduate program, the Woods External Degree distance learning program and the College’s graduate programs. Questions can be directed to the SMWC Office of Distance Admission at 812-535-1120, 1-800-499-0373 or wedadms@smwc.edu. For more information about the Post 9/11 GI Bill, visit http://www.gibill.va.gov.