VA says risk‑based surveys narrowed after complaints; members ask whether schools were unfairly targeted
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Summary
At a House Veterans Affairs subcommittee hearing VA officials described changes to risk‑based survey selection after concerns that the reviews discouraged schools from participating in GI Bill programs; officials said complaints can trigger reviews but selection uses multiple factors and SAAs negotiate selections.
Department of Veterans Affairs officials told a House Veterans Affairs subcommittee the agency has narrowed the use of risk‑based surveys used to evaluate schools that accept GI Bill benefits, after members and partners raised concerns the process had unintentionally disincentivized some institutions from participating.
James Ruhlman, deputy director of Education Service at the Veterans Benefits Administration, said the risk‑based surveys are intended to "provide health checks and fix any problems before veterans become at risk and end up being impacted by a school closure." He told the panel the VA and State Approving Agencies (SAAs) have revised the model for three years running and have reduced the number of surveys from about 1,300 in fiscal 2023 to about 250 in fiscal 2024 and fewer than 200 in the current year.
Representative Barrett asked whether anonymous complaints could trigger a survey. Ruhlman said complaints can contribute to school selection but that "we actually have a minimum of two complaints that are needed in order to possibly do that," and that selection is combined with other factors such as rapid enrollment growth, payments per student and other regulatory violations. He also said the agency negotiates school selections with the SAAs and does not intend to single out schools unfairly.
Committee members pressed for clarity on the data‑driven approach and whether certain metrics — such as transfer, retention and persistence rates — had skewed prior selections toward community colleges. Ruhlman said the VA has stopped using some of those metrics because they unintentionally targeted certain feeder schools. He also said VA and SAAs will continue to refine the model and will work with school certifying officials to reduce unnecessary burden while preserving protections for veterans.
Ending: The agency said it will continue discussion with SAAs and other partners to refine the model and ensure surveys are targeted and not punitive. Members requested follow‑up on the selection criteria and counts by fiscal year.