N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-28 Short title.
This act shall be known as, and may be cited as, the "New Jersey Educational Opportunity Act of 1968." L.1968,c.142,s.1, eff.July 12, 1968.
N.J. Stat. tit. 18A, ch. 71
N.J. Stat. tit. 18A, ch. 71
in effectN.J. Stat. § 18A:71-29 Liberal construction.
This act shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes and intent thereof. L.1968,c.142,s.2, eff.July 12, 1968.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-30 Definitions.
3. As used in this act, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the following meanings: The term "board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund created by section 4 of P.L.1968, c.142 (C.18A:71-31). The term "department" shall mean the Department of State. The term "fund" shall mean the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund created by section 4 of P.L.1968, c.142 (C.18A:71-31). The term "higher education" shall mean that education which is provided by any or all of the public institutions of higher education as herein defined or any or all equivalent private institutions. The term "public institutions of higher education" shall mean and include Rutgers, The State University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rowan University, Montclair State University, Kean University, the five State colleges, the county colleges, and any other public universities, colleges, or county colleges now or hereafter established or authorized by law. L.1969, c.142, s.3; amended 1994, c.48, s.212; 2012, c.45, s.96; 2017, c.178, s.57; 2021, c.282, s.57; 2025, c.218, s.24.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-31 "New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund."
4.(a) There is hereby created and established under the Commission on Higher Education, which is in but not of the Department of State, an educational opportunity fund which shall be known as the "New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund." Notwithstanding this allocation, the fund shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department or by any officer thereof. The fund shall identify, recruit and provide financial assistance to needy students who are residents of this State in order that they may be able to attend institutions of higher education. (b) The business and operations of the fund shall be administered by the board of directors created pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1968, c.142 (C.18A:71-32) subject to the general supervision of the Commission on Higher Education. (c) The commission in consultation with the board shall designate an individual to serve as the chief executive officer of the fund, who shall organize the work of the fund in such manner as he deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this act. The commission may employ such persons, contract for such services, make such expenditures and adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this act. L.1968,c.142,s.4; amended 1994,c.48,s.213; 1999,c.46,s.45.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-32 Membership.
5. (a) The board of directors of the fund shall consist of the chairman of the Commission on Higher Education and the chairperson of the Board of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority or their designees from among the public members and eight citizens of this State appointed by the Governor. Citizen members of the board shall be selected without regard to political affiliation and, as far as may be practicable, on the basis of their knowledge of, or interest in, the problems of needy students and higher education. The board shall organize annually as established by rule of the board to elect a chairman, vice chairman and other officers as the board shall determine from among its members. The officers shall serve for a two-year term and until their successors are elected and qualified. Vacancies in the offices shall be filled in the same manner for the unexpired term only. (b) Each citizen member of the board shall serve for a term of four years and until his successor shall have been appointed and qualified; provided, that in the case of the first appointments to the board, two members shall be appointed for terms expiring June 30, 1969; two members shall be appointed for terms expiring June 30, 1970; two members shall be appointed for terms expiring June 30, 1971; and two members shall be appointed for terms expiring June 30, 1972. Any vacancy in the membership of the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term. (c) The board shall develop and maintain a Statewide system for the identification of potential college students from needy families; devise methods for recruiting such students; advise the commission on the organization, coordination and support, in cooperation with public and private institutions of higher education of the State, of programs of remedial education for such students; and provide financial assistance as required by such students. (d) Members of the board shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties. L.1968,c.142,s.5; amended 1988, c.101; 1994, c.48, s.214; 1999, c.46, s.46; 2003, c.222.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-33 Board's additional duties.
6. The board shall: (a) Administer all funds appropriated by the Legislature for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act. (b) Be an agency of communication with departments and agencies of the United States on the availability of grants or loans to this State for purposes related or similar to those set forth in this act. (c) Develop, establish and publicize criteria for the determination of eligibility for financial assistance from the fund based on need and potential for success in college. (d) Established procedures for determining the amount of each award according to the total financial need of each student. (e) Through the Commission on Higher Education, be responsible and report periodically in writing to the Governor and the Legislature on the performance of its duties in accordance with the provisions of this act. (f) Adopt bylaws, and make, enforce, alter and repeal rules for its own operation and for carrying out the provisions of this act. (g) Receive and disburse such contributions to the fund as may be forthcoming from private and public sources. L.1968,c.142,s.6; amended 1994,c.48,s.215.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-34 Awarding of "opportunity grants."
7. (a) The board is hereby authorized to award "opportunity grants" from the fund to needy students for undergraduate study leading to a baccalaureate degree, associate degree, or other approved certificate and for graduate and professional study leading to approved master's and doctor's degrees at institutions of higher education, public and private, located in New Jersey; provided, that the board shall allow not more than 10% of the needy students to be awarded opportunity grants in any year to use their opportunity grants at institutions of higher education located outside this State; and, provided further, that no more than 10% of the funds appropriated and available for the purposes of this act shall be awarded to students for use in graduate study. (b) Opportunity grants may be awarded annually, upon proper application to the fund, to any needy student who qualifies under the standards to be developed and promulgated by the board and who is or will be attending an institution of collegiate grade located in New Jersey and approved for this purpose by the Commission on Higher Education, except that in cases where the student will be or is attending an institution in another State, the accreditation procedures of that State shall be accepted, subject to the approval of the board. (c) The board may utilize the services of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to administer the provisions of this section. The cost of these services shall be paid by the Equal Opportunity Fund. L.1968,c.142,s.7; amended 1994,c.48,s.216, 1999,c.46,s.47.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-35 Prerequisites necessary for awarding grant.
(a) No opportunity grant shall be awarded to any applicant therefor unless such applicant shall have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the board that he or she: (1) Is and has been a resident of the State for at least 12 months prior to receiving the grant; (2) Will be or is attending a full-time or other program leading to a degree, or other organized program of study approved by the institution which he or she is or will be attending; (3) Has demonstrated financial need for such grant, as determined by standards and procedures to be established by the board, in accordance with the provisions of this and the preceding article; and (4) Has complied with all rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this act by the board for the award, regulation and administration of opportunity grants. (b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, the board is hereby authorized to require the satisfaction of such other requirements as it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this act. L.1968,c.142,s.8.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-36 Financial resources of applicant; rules and regulations.
In awarding opportunity grants pursuant to this act, the board shall take into account the financial resources available to the applicant to meet the cost of his higher education and the tuition, fees and living expenses at the institution of higher education which the applicant is attending or to which he has been admitted. Opportunity grants awarded pursuant to this act shall be paid to recipients by the State Treasurer in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the board. L.1968,c.142,s.9.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-37 Period of assistance.
No person shall be eligible for educational opportunity assistance pursuant to this act for more than six years, or for such other period of time as may be determined by the board to be necessary for the completion of an organized course of study. Each opportunity grant awarded pursuant to this act shall remain in effect only so long as the recipient thereof achieves academic progress to the satisfaction of the board and demonstrates continued eligibility pursuant to the provisions of this act. L.1968,c.142,s.10.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-38 No discrimination; number; amount.
Opportunity grants shall be awarded by the board without regard to race, creed or religion and in such number and amount as may be within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available therefor. L.1968,c.142,s.11.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-39 Remedial and supplementary education for grantees.
12. The board of directors shall develop, establish and maintain programs of remedial and supplementary education for the students who will receive educational opportunity assistance under this act. Such programs may be administered directly by the fund or may be co-operative ventures undertaken with any or all of the public and private institutions of higher education in the State. L.1968,c.142,s.12, amended 1994,c.48,s.217.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-40.1 Short title
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "C. Clyde Ferguson Law Scholarship Act of 1989." L.1989, c.259, s.1.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-40.2 C. Clyde Ferguson Law Scholarships; created
There are created C. Clyde Ferguson Law Scholarships which shall be maintained by the State and awarded and administered pursuant to this act to students from disadvantaged or minority backgrounds enrolled in the Minority Student Program at Rutgers School of Law-Newark, and enrolled in the Rutgers School of Law-Camden and Seton Hall University School of Law. L.1989, c.259, s.2.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-40.3 Scholarships awarded annually
C. Clyde Ferguson Law Scholarships shall be awarded annually by the board of directors of the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund to 30 New Jersey law students from disadvantaged or minority backgrounds. Each of the participating law schools shall select 10 students to participate in the program. L.1989, c.259, s.3.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-40.4 Requirements for scholarship recipients
No person shall be awarded a C. Clyde Ferguson Law Scholarship unless: a. The person has been a resident of New Jersey for a period of not less than one year immediately prior to receiving the scholarship; b. The person has demonstrated financial need for the scholarship in accordance with standards to be established by the board of directors of the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund; c. The person has demonstrated high moral character, good citizenship, and dedication to American ideals; and d. The person has complied with all rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this act by the board of directors of the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund for the award, regulation and administration of the scholarship. L.1989, c.259, s.4.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-40.5 Amount of scholarship
The amount of a C. Clyde Ferguson Scholarship shall be established by the board of directors of the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund but shall not exceed the maximum amount of tuition, fees and on-campus housing charged at the Rutgers School of Law-Newark. L.1989, c.259, s.5.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-40.6 Renewal of scholarship
Each C. Clyde Ferguson Law Scholarship shall be renewable annually for up to four years except that each scholarship shall remain in effect only if the holder of the scholarship continues to have financial need, achieves satisfactory academic progress as defined by the law school in which the student is enrolled, continues to meet the eligibility criteria and guidelines established by the board of directors of the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund, and is regularly enrolled as a full-time student. L.1989, c.259, s.6.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-40.7 Rules, regulations
The board of directors of the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act. L.1989, c.259, s.7.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-78.1 Tuition-free enrollment in postsecondary program for certain volunteers, family members.
1. A person who is an active member of a volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid or rescue squad or association in good standing and the dependent children and spouse of a volunteer shall be allowed to enroll in a postsecondary program on a tuition-free basis in a county college, county vocational school or county technical institute and be eligible to receive tuition credit in an amount not to exceed a maximum of $2,400 for the member, children and spouse; provided that available classroom space permits and that tuition paying students constitute the minimum number required for the course. Nothing herein shall preclude a county college, county vocational school or county technical institute from requiring registration and lab fees for individuals attending courses pursuant to this act. L.1998,c.145,s.1.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-78.2 Eligibility for tuition credit.
2. In order to be eligible to receive tuition credit at a county college, county vocational school or county technical institute, a person shall agree to serve as a member of a volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid or rescue squad or association for a minimum of four years and sign an agreement with the municipality in which the squad or association is located pledging four years of service in exchange for the tuition credit. Following each year of volunteer service performed, the volunteer or the spouse or dependent child shall be entitled to receive tuition credit of up to $600, not to exceed a maximum of $2,400 for the member, children and spouse over a four-year service period. L.1998,c.145,s.2.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-78.3 Verification of service; transcript records.
3. Upon being accepted and enrolled in a county college, county vocational school or county technical institute, the volunteer, dependent child or spouse shall provide verification to the institution that the volunteer has performed the service required for the tuition credit. Upon completion of each semester, the volunteer shall submit a transcript to the municipality to be maintained in a permanent record. The volunteer or the dependent child or spouse shall maintain a "C" grade average in order to continue eligibility for the tuition credit program. L.1998,c.145,s.3.
N.J. Stat. § 18A:71-78.4 Issuance of letter of eligibility.
4. A municipality which chooses to participate in the tuition credit program shall issue a letter of eligibility to the volunteer, to be presented to the appropriate institution, stating that the individual is a member in good standing of a volunteer fire company, volunteer first aid or rescue squad or association. L.1998,c.145,s.4.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026