Bill Text: NJ AR80 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializes Department of Defense and American institutions of higher education to implement policies addressed in department's Tuition Assistance Program Memorandum of Understanding.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-2)
Status: (Passed) 2013-03-22 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR80 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-AR80-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblyman JOHN J. BURZICHELLI
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Gusciora
SYNOPSIS
Memorializes Department of Defense and American institutions of higher education to implement policies addressed in department's Tuition Assistance Program Memorandum of Understanding.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution memorializing the Department of Defense and American institutions of higher education to implement policies addressed in the department's Tuition Assistance Program Memorandum of Understanding.
Whereas, Military members who are seeking a college degree are faced with unique challenges, in part due to the nature of military service and the likelihood of relocation during schooling; and
Whereas, Because of the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices of the members of the United States military, our nation is obligated to ensure that those individuals are afforded the opportunity to receive a quality education; and
Whereas, An educated military force is more prepared for the requirements of military service and to effectively defend the people and ideals of this nation; and
Whereas, The Department of Defense has worked with the country's colleges and universities to draft a Memorandum of Understanding to create uniform guidelines regarding the education of service members by schools receiving funding under the department's Tuition Assistance Program; and
Whereas, In order to receive tuition assistance, schools must sign the memorandum, which offers certain protections and provides meaningful educational choices to members of the military; and
Whereas, The Memorandum of Understanding requires disclosure of admissions policies, credit transferability, residency requirements, and program costs, as well as provides access for service members to financial aid advisors, all of which assist service members in deciding which school to attend; and
Whereas, Service members are further protected by the memorandum's prohibition against schools engaging in practices that aggressively target military members for enrollment at the school; and
Whereas, The Department of Defense previously postponed the implementation of the policies in the memorandum, pushing back the deadline to sign the memorandum from January 1, 2012 to March 30, 2012; and
Whereas, The Memorandum of Understanding has yet to go into effect; and
Whereas, All of the protections and requirements included in the Memorandum of Understanding are crucial to ensuring that our country's service members receive the education that they both desire and deserve; and
Whereas, It is of utmost importance to this State that policies are implemented to improve the educational experience for members of the military, many of whom are from New Jersey and all of whom are dedicated to uphold the principles for which our nation and our State stand; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Department of Defense and American institutions of higher education are memorialized to implement the policies addressed in the department's Tuition Assistance Program Memorandum of Understanding.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested to by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Secretary of Defense, the President of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, and the president of each public or independent institution of higher education in this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution memorializes the Department of Defense and American institutions of higher education to implement the policies that are addressed in the department's Tuition Assistance Program Memorandum of Understanding.
The Memorandum of Understanding provides guidelines that will help provide a better overall educational experience for members of the United States military who are seeking a college education. Because service members face unique challenges, the memorandum provides certain protections and benefits to those service members, including disclosure requirements, access to financial aid advisors, and restrictions on a school's ability to aggressively recruit members of the military. In order to receive funding under the department's Tuition Assistance Program, a school must sign the memorandum.
Originally scheduled to be implemented after a January 1, 2012 signing deadline for schools, the department postponed the deadline to March 30, 2012. The policies contained in the memorandum have not yet gone into effect. In order to ensure that members of the military receive a quality education, it is imperative that the policies within the memorandum are implemented as soon as possible.
