Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Senator SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM
District 31 (Hudson)
Senator THOMAS H. KEAN, JR.
District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman McKnight, Assemblyman Holley, Assemblywomen Timberlake, Vainieri Huttle, Carter, Senators Pou and Singleton
SYNOPSIS
Designates April of each year as “Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Month” in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating April of each year as “Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Month” in New Jersey.
Whereas, The “New Jersey Educational Opportunity Act of 1968,” P.L.1968, c.142 (C.18A:71-28 et seq.) established the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) to ensure meaningful access to higher education for economically and educationally disadvantaged students; and
Whereas, For over 50 years, EOF has provided a wide array of services and support for students, including counseling, tutoring, and developmental course work, designed to foster academic achievement, the development of leadership skills, and persistence to graduation; and
Whereas, In addition to support services, EOF provides financial assistance to eligible students at participating institutions. Under EOF, annual undergraduate grants range from $200 to $2,650 depending on the type of institution, enrollment status, and financial need of the student. The grants are renewable based upon continued eligibility; and
Whereas, According to the Secretary of Higher Education, EOF serves more than 13,000 students each year at 70 EOF campus programs at 41 participating post-secondary institutions in the State. Approximately 11,600 of the EOF recipients attend public institutions of higher education; and
Whereas, In its final report issued in September 2016, the New Jersey College Affordability Study Commission found that EOF is a well-structured program with an effective and targeted approach to making college more attainable and affordable for the students it serves. The commission commended EOF for its outstanding work in providing a gateway to higher education for students with academic and financial challenges; and
Whereas, The commission also urged the continued support of EOF and, where possible, encouraged the expansion of EOF through increased State appropriations in order to meet the needs of more New Jersey students; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The month of April of each year is designated as “Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Month” in New Jersey in order to recognize the critical role that EOF plays in ensuring the meaningful access to higher education for economically and educationally disadvantaged students in the State.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing April as “Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Month” in New Jersey and calling upon high schools, EOF-participating post-secondary institutions, and other interested groups to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs, to promote EOF awareness, and to provide all students with information about utilizing EOF.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates April of each year as “Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Month” in New Jersey in order to recognize the critical role that EOF plays in ensuring the meaningful access to higher education for economically and educationally disadvantaged students in the State. For over 50 years, EOF has provided a wide array of services and support for students, including counseling, tutoring, and developmental course work, designed to foster academic achievement, the development of leadership skills, and persistence to graduation. In addition to support services, EOF provides financial assistance to eligible students at participating institutions.
Under the joint resolution, the Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing April as “Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Month” in New Jersey and calling upon high schools, EOF-participating post-secondary institutions, and other interested groups to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs, to promote EOF awareness, and to provide all students with information about utilizing EOF.