N.J. Admin. Code § 9A:9-11.5

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 12, June 17, 2024

Section 9A:9-11.5 - Eligibility requirements

(a) A student shall be eligible for a scholarship under the NJ STARS II Program for up to four terms, unless the student is enrolled in a three plus one degree program established pursuant to P.L. 2018, c. 144, in which case the student shall be eligible for a scholarship under the NJ STARS II Program for up to three terms. Payments are only made for fall and spring terms. The student's eligibility will be determined during the first eligible term of enrollment at a participating institution. In order to qualify for this scholarship, a student must:

1. Have an annual family income, both taxable and untaxed, as derived from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid filed for the third academic year of study, of less than $ 250,000;

2. Have graduated from a New Jersey county college with an associate degree as a funded or non-funded NJ STARS scholar with at least a 3.25 cumulative grade point average or was eligible for but did not receive an NJ STARS scholarship because the student was enrolled in college courses while in high school and received an associates degree with at least a 3.25 cumulative grade point average in accordance with a joint program offered by the student's school district and a county college.

i. Students who were not enrolled in a three plus one degree program established pursuant to P.L. 2018, c. 144, and were NJ STARS scholars for their fifth semester of county college enrollment and enrolled in a sixth semester at the county college in a nursing or engineering program are eligible for NJ STARS II, provided they meet the requirements for receipt of an NJ STARS II scholarship and graduate after the sixth semester.

ii. Students who were enrolled in a three plus one degree program established pursuant to P.L. 2018, c. 144 must have been a funded or non-funded NJ STARS scholar in the sixth semester of county college enrollment to be eligible for NJ STARS II;

3. Be enrolled full-time, or part-time if the student received an exemption from the full-time course requirement pursuant to (a)5iii below, in a baccalaureate degree program at a participating institution no later than the second eligible term immediately following the student's attainment of an associate degree, unless enrollment is delayed due to the illness of the student or a member of the student's immediate family or because of a family emergency, which medical or emergency exception shall have been approved by the Authority, or unless 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;

4. Annually complete and file a financial aid application or renewal financial aid application, as approved by the Authority, within established State deadlines in order to apply for all other available forms of State and Federal need-based grants and merit scholarships. This includes the student satisfying all requirements within established State deadlines to determine his or her eligibility to receive payments of these State and Federal grants and scholarships at the participating institution; and

5. Maintain continuous enrollment in a full-time course of study at a participating institution unless:

i. The student is on medical leave due to the illness of the student or a member of the student's immediate family or on emergency leave because of a family emergency, which medical or emergency leave shall have been approved by the participating institution prior to completion of the term for which leave is being granted;

ii. The student 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;

iii. The student receives an exemption from the full-time course of study requirement by enrolling part-time and:

(1) Provides the participating institution with a written note from a physician or other licensed health care professional indicating the student's need to take a reduced number of credits due to a physical or mental health condition; or

(2) Provides the participating institution with documentation to verify the death of the student's parent or spouse in the current or previous semester. Acceptable documentation includes, but is not limited to, a copy of the obituary listing the student as the child or spouse, or a copy of the death certificate along with a copy of the birth certificate or marriage certificate.

(b) A student enrolled part-time pursuant to (a)5iii above shall receive an additional semester of NJ STARS II eligibility for each semester the student receives an exemption from the full-time course of student requirement, not to exceed four additional semesters.

(c) Determination of the student's ineligibility for an NJ STARS II scholarship during the first eligible term of enrollment at a participating institution precludes the student from future eligibility for an NJ STARS II award.

N.J. Admin. Code § 9A:9-11.5

Amended by 52 N.J.R. 469(a), effective 3/2/2020