Assembly Higher Education Committee Proposes Changes to Sustain NJ STARS into the Future

TRENTON, N.J.—On Thursday, Oct. 23, the Assembly Higher Education Committee released bill A-3373, legislation that would revise the popular NJ STARS and NJ STARS II college scholarship programs to ensure their long-term viability.

The proposed changes to NJ STARS include:

1. Limit eligibility to the top 15% of high school graduating class.

2. Students must complete a rigorous series of high school courses as a first step toward eligibility. The requirements should be aligned with the current State Scholars Initiative and with the High School Redesign efforts in the future.

3. Students would continue to have five (5) semesters of eligibility for NJ STARS.

4. Students will take the Accuplacer college placement test as early as their high school senior year when they receive their conditional eligibility letter from the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. Community colleges will administer the test free of charge and may create partnerships with districts to have on-site testing as well.

5. Students who do not achieve the required test scores on Accuplacer or other assessments will be notified that they are currently in need of remediation by the testing center at the community college. Students will be able to take appropriate courses in their high school senior year to improve their skills, or they could attend remedial courses at the community college while enrolled in high school.

6. Students who graduate from high school and still need remediation will be given up to one year at their own cost or using other non-STARS funds to gain the skills they need to be college ready. They will not be considered NJ STARS scholars until they meet the requirement, but they will still have five semesters of eligibility upon meeting the requirements during that year.

7. Scholars will be permitted to use summer sessions as part of their five semesters of eligibility.

8. Scholars will be allowed to take up to 18 credits each semester if they are able to handle the course load and wish to accelerate their graduation.

9. Scholars will be permitted to take fewer than 12 credits in their final semester if they need fewer than 12 credits to graduate.

10. Students who have earned college credits during high school will be able to submit those credits for consideration to the community college, and upon meeting the established criteria should have those credits applied to their degree. Those students who have earned an associates degree while enrolled in high school should be eligible to apply directly to a senior New Jersey public college or university for inclusion in NJ STARS II.

11. Dependent students of military families assigned to a military base and whose parents have established New Jersey as their state of residence should be eligible for NJ STARS as long as all other conditions are met.

12. Scholars who have majors (nursing, engineering) that require an additional 6th semester will pay for the additional semester, but be able to retain their eligibility for NJ STARS II status.

13. Students must earn a 3.25 cumulative average to be eligible for Stars II.

The proposed changes to NJ STARS II include:

1. NJ STARS II scholarships will be fixed at up to $6,000 a year for students earning their AA degree with a 3.25-3.49 grade point average; scholarships will be up to $7,000 a year for students earning their AA degree with a 3.5-4.0 grade point average and in both cases other merit- and need-based aid will be applied first. The cost of those scholarships will be equally divided between the state and the senior public college. The scholarships will cover tuition only, except in the case of New Jersey Tuition Aid Grant recipients who can apply the scholarship to fees as well. Non-need based aid students will cover the fees and any remaining tuition amounts.

2. NJ STARS II students will continue to have 4 semesters to complete their baccalaureate degree.

3. NJ STARS II students must maintain a 3.25 average GPA in their junior year to receive the scholarship in his/her senior year. The senior year award will be adjusted up or down based on the student's grade point average.

Current NJ STARS students at the community college will be grandfathered for their remaining semesters but would have to meet the new criteria for NJ STARS II; current NJ STARS II juniors would receive their current benefit for their senior year.