ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 2218

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: MARCH 3, 1997

 

      The Assembly Education Committee favorably reports Assembly Bill No. 2218 with committee amendments.

      As amended by committee, this bill provides that a student at a public institution of higher education who is unable to complete a course due to the fact that he is called to partial or full mobilization for State or federal active duty as a member of the National Guard or a Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States shall be entitled to certain options with respect to the student's grade for the course.

      Under the bill's provisions, a student who has completed at least eight weeks of attendance in a course may choose to receive a letter grade, a grade of pass or fail, or a grade of incomplete, or to withdraw from the course. A student who has completed less than eight weeks of attendance in a course may choose to receive a grade of incomplete or to withdraw from the course. A letter grade or a grade of pass will only be awarded if, in the opinion of the faculty member teaching the course, the student has completed sufficient work and there is sufficient evidence of progress toward meeting the requirements of the course to justify the grade. A grade of incomplete would remain valid for one year after the student returns to school. A student who receives a grade of pass or fail may, within one year of returning to school, receive a letter grade for the course by completing the work required for the course. The letter grade will replace the grade of pass or fail. A student who withdraws from a course will receive a refund of tuition and fees attributable to that course. Amounts paid by a student for room, board or fees will be refunded on a pro rata basis.

      The committee amended the bill to revise its provisions concerning the options available to students who have completed at least eight weeks of a course and those who have completed less than eight weeks, to clarify that its provisions apply only to students attending a public institution of higher education, and to make it applicable to the 1997-98 academic year.

      As amended by committee, this bill is identical to Senate Bill No.1330 (2R) with committee amendments.