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Dear GI Bill® Student,

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been made aware that the following Art Institute campuses closed effective September 30, 2023:

• Miami International University of Art & Design
• The Art Institute of Atlanta
• The Art Institute of Austin, a branch of The Art Institute of Houston
• The Art Institute of Dallas, a branch of Miami International University of Art & Design
• The Art Institute of Houston
• The Art Institute of San Antonio, a branch of The Art Institute of Houston
• The Art Institute of Tampa, a branch of Miami International University of Art & Design
• The Art Institute of Virginia Beach, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta

We understand the extremely difficult situation a school closure may cause Veterans and their families, and we wish to assist you as much as possible in continuing your educational goals. If you are considering a transfer to another school to prevent or minimize interruptions in your education benefits, please know that some schools may offer to waive certain admissions fees, and accept credits earned at Art Institutes. VA has resources to support students to choose another school at: https://www.va.gov/education/choosing-a-school/ or https://www.va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool/.

In certain circumstances when a closure or withdrawal action is made, students may be eligible for restoration of entitlement of their GI Bill benefits. VA will make a determination on a student-by-student basis based on specific eligibility factors outlined in the law (38 U.S.C. § 3699). You can learn more about restoration of entitlement at https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/Restoration.asp.

Where can I find help?

Please see some additional resources that may assist you:

• Student Veterans of America (http://studentveterans.org/) has a network of over 1,400 student chapters at colleges and universities and their staff can provide answers to your questions.
• Reach out to Veterans of Foreign Wars (https://www.vfw.org). They offer emergency assistance grants to students affected by school closures.
• Free lawyers and advice are available for students from Veterans Education Success. Visit their website at https://vetsedsuccess.org/ or email directly, help@vetsedsuccess.org.
• If a school closes, the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid has a dedicated page. Visit Has Your School Closed? Here’s What to Do. | Federal Student Aid for more information. Please see Federal Student Aid’s update for Art Institutes’ students: https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/ai.pdf
• The American Legion (https://www.legion.org/serviceofficers) has service officers in every state that can provide answers to questions about education benefits, federal student loans and credit transferability.
• The State Approving Agencies (https://nasaa-vetseducation.com/nasaa-contacts/) are working with schools to identify those that will accept transfers.

VA remains focused on the Veterans who have honorably served, as well as their eligible dependents. VA is contacting all affected Art Institute students via this email to inform them of this action and the options available to them. We are committed to working closely with all students to ensure that you are properly protected and have minimal disruptions to your future educational plans.

If you have any questions, or are experiencing difficulties, please contact VA’s Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday. Alternatively, you may also submit questions through the Ask VA (AVA) system. If you don't already have a VA login account, you will need to set one up to use AVA: https://ask.va.gov/.

Respectfully,

Education Service

If you know a Veteran who is in crisis,

call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 press 1.