Veterans Education: Independent Study Approved for Certificate Programs and Other Miscellaneous Issues

The Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001 allows payment of Montgomery GI Bill--Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) benefits for accredited independent study courses that lead to a certificate that reflects educational attainment. The certificate must be offered by an institution of higher learning. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can provide MGIB-SR benefits for enrollments on or after December 27, 2001, in these independent study courses. We are also making changes in regulations in accordance with The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998. The Act removed the language "in connection with the Persian Gulf War" and "during the Persian Gulf War" from certain sections in title 10, United States Code, regarding preservation of entitlement to MGIB-SR benefits for Selected Reserve members ordered to active duty in support of contingency operations. We are amending our regulations to reflect the statutory changes. Since these changes are nothing more than restatements of statutes, they do not require notice and comment under 5 U.S.C. 553.