Title 18A, Title 18A: EDUCATION

18A:3B-102 Definitions. 1. As used in this act: “Current or former student” means a person who at any time enrolled in a course offered by an institution, including a student taking a leave of absence from the institution. “Debt” means any money, obligation, claim, or sum, due or…

18A:3B-103 Transcript fees, conditions. 2. a. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection c. of this section, if a current or former student meeting the criteria enumerated in paragraph (2) of this subsection requests a transcript, an institution shall not, due to an outstandi…

18A:3B-104 Issuance of official transcripts, applicable payment periods. 3. An institution shall provide an official transcript to a current or former student upon the student’s request for all applicable payment periods in which: a. the student’s credits obtained in the specifie…

18A:3B-105 Prohibition against withholding official transcripts, error based in federal student aid administration, fraud, misconduct. 4. An institution shall not withhold official transcripts from a current or former student or take any other adverse action against a student rel…

18A:3B-106 Transmitting transcript to third parties. 5. A current or former student may permit a transcript released pursuant to the provisions of this act to be transmitted to a third-party entity. An institution releasing a transcript pursuant to the provisions of this act shal…

18A:3B-107 Violation of act, penalties. 6. A violation by an institution of the requirements of this act shall constitute an unlawful practice under P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), and shall be subject to all remedies and penalties available pursuant to the provisions of that …

18A:3B-108 Receipt of transcript not to be construed as debt forgiveness. 7. Receipt of a transcript by a current or former student pursuant to the provisions of this act shall not be construed to forgive any debt owed by the student to an institution and shall not preclude an in…

18A:3B-109 Transcript release policy to be posted on Internet website. 8. An institution shall post its policies concerning transcript release, including policies concerning transcript release to a current or former student with an outstanding debt, on the Internet website of the…

18A:3B-11. Organization of council, selection of officers 11. a. The council shall organize within 60 days of the effective date of this act. Thereafter the council shall organize annually during the month of February and meet at other times as may be necessary, but not less than…

18A:3B-12 Executive board. 12. a. There shall be established an executive board which performs such duties as determined by the council. The executive board shall be composed of 17 members as follows: The president of Rutgers, The State University; The president of New Jersey Ins…

18A:3B-13 New Jersey Commission on Higher Education. 13. a. There is established the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education which shall consist of 15 members: 10 public members, to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate without regard for politi…

18A:3B-14 Responsibilities of Secretary of Higher Education. 14. The Secretary of Higher Education shall be responsible for: a. Statewide planning for higher education including research on higher education issues and the development of a comprehensive master plan, including, but…

18A:3B-14.1 Dissemination of fire safety information by N.J. institutions of higher education. 1. a. Every public and independent institution of higher education within the State shall disseminate fire safety information about their facilities to students, or, if the student is a…

18A:3B-14.2 Powers and duties of secretary. 22. The Secretary of Higher Education shall exercise all the powers and duties previously exercised by the Commission on Higher Education under the "Higher Education Equipment Leasing Fund Act," P.L.1993, c.136 (C.18A:72A-40 et seq.), t…

18A:3B-14.3 "30 Credits Per Year to Finish" communication campaign. 1. a. The Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with public and independent institutions of higher education, shall establish a Statewide "30 Credits Per Year to Finish" communication campaign. The purpo…

18A:3B-14.4 Joint dual degree admission agreements, institutions of higher education. 11. In order to strengthen and expand the preschool workforce, the Secretary of Higher Education shall develop guidance encouraging two- and four-year public institutions of higher education to …

18A:3B-15 Rules, regulations. 15. The secretary shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to carry out the provisions of this act. L.1994, c.48, s.15; amended 2021, c.27, s.3.

18A:3B-16. Report to Legislature, Governor 16. a. The commission shall report to the Legislature and Governor within six months of the effective date of this act on recommendations concerning the collective bargaining process and the civil service classification of certain instit…

18A:3B-19. Educational Opportunity Fund transferred 19. a. All functions, powers and duties now vested in the Educational Opportunity Fund or the board of directors thereof in the Department of Higher Education are transferred to and assumed by the Educational Opportunity Fund an…

18A:3B-2. Findings, declarations 2. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. the institutions of higher education are one of the most valuable and underutilized resources in the State; and b. the elimination of unnecessary State oversight and its accompanying bureaucracy will …

18A:3B-21. Educational Facilities Authority transferred. 21. a. All functions, powers and duties now vested in the Educational Facilities Authority or the officers thereof in the Department of Higher Education are transferred to and assumed by the Educational Facilities Authority…

18A:3B-22. State Board of Higher Education project approval transferred 22. The functions, powers and duties of the State Board of Higher Education, including the approval of projects, under the "Jobs, Education and Competitiveness Bond Act of 1988," P.L.1988, c.78 shall, followi…

18A:3B-23. State Board of Higher Education equipment purchase, allocation of funds transferred 23. The functions, powers and duties of the State Board of Higher Education, including the approval of the equipment purchase and allocation of funds, under the "Higher Education Equipm…

18A:3B-24 Equipment purchase, allocation of funds under C.18A:72A-49 et seq. transferred 24. The functions, powers and duties of the State Board of Higher Education, including the approval of the equipment purchase and allocation of funds, under the "Higher Education Facilities T…

18A:3B-25. Functions, powers, duties under P.L.1984, c.99 transferred 25. The functions, powers and duties of the State Board of Higher Education under the "Jobs, Science and Technology Bond Act," P.L.1984, c.99 shall, following July 1, 1994, be exercised by the New Jersey Commis…

18A:3B-26. Construction of act in regard to Rutgers, The State University 26. This act shall not be construed to impair any vested rights, grants, charter rights, privileges, exemptions, immunities, powers, prerogatives, franchises or advantages continued, granted or obtained by …

18A:3B-27. Allocation of institutions to Department of State 27. For the purposes of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, Paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, any State institution of higher education which was allocated to the Department of Higher Educa…

18A:3B-28. Construction of act 28. This act is a revision law and the provisions hereof not inconsistent with prior laws shall be construed as a continuation of such prior laws and its enactment shall not: a. affect the tenure, compensation and pension rights, if any, of the lawf…

18A:3B-29. Disposition of petitions, controversies, disputes 29. All petitions, controversies and disputes pending before the State Board of Higher Education or the Chancellor of Higher Education and not disposed of as of the effective date of this act shall be decided by the com…

18A:3B-3 Definitions. 3. For the purposes of this act, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning: "Authority" means the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority established pursuant to N.J.S.18A:71A-3; "Commission" means the New Jersey Commission on Higher Educ…

18A:3B-30. Responsibility for action to implement act 30. The Department of the Treasury in consultation with the Department of Personnel shall be responsible for any administrative, fiscal and personnel actions necessary to implement the provisions of this act. L.1994,c.48,s.30.…

18A:3B-31. Interim, comprehensive reports to Governor, Legislature 31. a. The council and commission established under this act shall submit an interim report to the Governor and Legislature on or before July 1, 1996 with an assessment of the restructuring of higher education emb…

18A:3B-32. Exercise of powers conferred in act 32. The powers conferred in this act upon the commission shall be exercised with due regard for the rights of the holders of bonds of this State or any authority thereof, at any time outstanding, and nothing in, or done pursuant to t…

18A:3B-33. Participation in alternate benefits program continued 33. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary, any former employee of the Department of Higher Education who was a participant in the alternate benefits program, P.L.1969, c.242 (C.18A:66-168 et seq.…

18A:3B-34 Powers of Secretary of Higher Education. 301. a. The Secretary of Higher Education, with the concurrence of the Governor, shall have authority to visit public institutions of higher education to examine their manner of conducting their affairs and to enforce an observan…

18A:3B-35 Annual report by institution of higher education. 305. Each public institution of higher education shall prepare and make available to the public an annual report on the condition of the institution which shall include, but need not be limited to a profile of the studen…

18A:3B-36. Specific enabling legislation required for reorganization transfer 306. For the purposes of any reorganization or transfer after the effective date of this act, any commission, council, board or other body created pursuant to this act, and any public entity transferred…

18A:3B-37 Alternate opportunity to take test, examination, attend or register for class due to religious observance. 1. a. An institution of higher education shall provide any student who, for reason of a religious observance, cannot attend a test or examination at its regular ad…

18A:3B-38 "Standardized test" defined; alternate administration of tests offered. 2. a. As used in this section: "Standardized test" means any test that is given in the State at the expense of the test subject and designed for use and used in the process of selection for postseco…

18A:3B-39 Long-range facilities plan. 42. a. A public research university or a State college shall submit a long-range facilities plan on projects to be developed to the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education for its review and recommendations. The long-range facilities plan s…

18A:3B-4. Department of Higher Education abolished 4. The Department of Higher Education created by P.L.1967, c.271 (C.18A:3-1 et seq.) is abolished as a principal department in the Executive Branch of State Government and all of its functions, powers and duties, except as herein…

18A:3B-40 Network to propose, develop economic development policies, programs. 46. The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education shall appoint and convene a network of academics and researchers from New Jersey's public and independent institutions of higher education to propose a…

18A:3B-41 Short title. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Troops to College Act." L.2009, c.125, s.1.

18A:3B-42 Troops to College Grant Program. 2. a. The Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, shall establish the Troops to College Program. The purpose of the program shall be to assist New Jersey's institutions of hig…

18A:3B-42.1 Aviation grant program, higher education, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative participants . 4. a. The Secretary of Higher Education shall, in consultation with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and any other State agencies as deem…

18A:3B-42a Credit for student's military experience. 1. a. Each public and independent institution of higher education, after taking into account and giving due consideration to the credit recommendation of the American Council on Education, shall accept and apply towards an unde…