Local

Local veteran using GI Bill benefits left in limbo after ITT Tech closure

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A veteran who is using GI Bill benefits is left in limbo after ITT Tech closure.

Norman Livingston, who is a father, served four years in the Navy. He said joining the military was a way to do something meaningful.

“For me joining the Navy was giving me a chance to do something out of myself, something bigger than myself,” said Livingston.

Livingston said he looked forward to using the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which he used to pay for his education at ITT Technical Institute.

But, after being enrolled for two years and with one semester left before graduation, the school shuttered and left thousands of students in limbo.

“I felt devastated because in my mind I was like how can I make up that time that I lost,” said Livingston.

Livingston is one of more than 6,800 GI Bill beneficiaries who were pursuing a degree at ITT Tech.

Livingston said he reached out to the Department of Veterans Affairs to try to get his benefits back and take them to another school.

“They said there's nothing they can do,” said Livingston.

Many students were able to get loan forgiveness after the closure, but because GI Bill beneficiaries receive help under the Department of Veterans Affairs and not the Department of Education, that same relief did not extend to service members.

A VA spokesperson said they do have resources to help veterans like Livingston “relocate their academic pursuits” and urged veterans with concerns to call 888-442-4551.

But Livingston said it’s not that easy.

“It's going to be hard to transfer credits because I’d be lucky to be a sophomore if they take my credits from ITT Tech,” said Livingston.

Ultimately, he said he’s not sure where to go and fears he’ll have to go out of pocket if he wants to finish his degree.

“I blame ITT,” said Livingston. “I feel like I got robbed honestly.”

Livingston is the nephew of an Action News Jax employee.