New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 9A - HIGHER EDUCATION
Chapter 9 - GRANT AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
Subchapter 11 - NEW JERSEY STUDENT TUITION ASSISTANCE REWARD SCHOLARSHIP II (NJ STARS II) PROGRAM
Section 9A:9-11.2 - Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Academic year of study" means one continuous year of study by the student beginning with the fall term and including the succeeding spring term or beginning with the spring term and including the succeeding fall term. While NJ STARS II does not provide awards for winter terms, an academic year of study includes full-time enrollment during the winter term for students enrolled in quarter schools.

"Annual family income" for a dependent student means the parent and student applicant's taxable and untaxed income as derived from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For an independent student, annual family income includes the student applicant's, and spouse's, if married, taxable and untaxed income as derived from the FAFSA.

"Approved fees" means fees charged to a student by the four-year institution of higher education that are mandatory in pursuing his or her full-time course of study, as well as fees that are mandatory for all students for attendance at that institution.

"Authority" means the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority established pursuant to 18A:71A-3.

"Cumulative grade point average" means the average grade earned by a student, determined by dividing the grade points earned by the number of credits attempted while the student is receiving a scholarship under the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship II (NJ STARS II) Program, established pursuant to 18A:71B-86.1 et seq., or was eligible but did not receive an award under the NJ STARS II Program because the student's tuition or tuition and fees, as applicable, were fully covered by other State and Federal need-based grants or merit scholarships.

"Eligible term" means a fall or spring semester, quarter, or trimester at a participating institution.

"Fourth academic year of study" means the third and fourth eligible terms of study at a participating institution, unless the student is enrolled in a three plus one degree program established pursuant to P.L. 2018, c. 144, in which case the fourth academic year of study means the first and second eligible terms of study at a participating four-year institution.

"Full-time course of study" means a course of study in any term, except summer sessions, that includes at least 12 credit hours in a non-remedial or non-developmental curriculum and which leads to a baccalaureate degree from a participating institution.

"New Jersey four-year institution of higher education" mean an institution of higher education that offers degrees up to the baccalaureate level at a minimum and is participating in the Tuition Aid Grant Program pursuant to 9A:9-2.1.

"NJ STARS scholar" means a student who either received an award, or was eligible to receive an award but was non-funded during the semester immediately preceding graduation from the New Jersey county college, under the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) Program pursuant to 18A:71B-81 et seq.

"Non-funded" means a student who was eligible but did not receive an award under the NJ STARS Program because the student's tuition and approved fees, if applicable, were fully covered by other State and Federal need-based grants or merit scholarships.

"Participating institution" means a New Jersey four-year institution of higher education.

"Part-time enrollment" in any semester means a course of study in any term, except summer sessions, that includes at least six credit hours, but less than 12 credit hours, in a non-remedial or non-developmental curriculum and which leads to a baccalaureate degree from a participating institution.

"Program" or "NJ STARS II" means the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship II Program established pursuant to P.L. 2005, c. 359.

"Remedial or developmental curriculum" means a non-credit course or a course for which credits earned are not applicable to minimum credit requirements leading to a degree or certificate.

"Third academic year of study" means the first two eligible terms of study at a participating institution, 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 completed the third academic year of study at the county college.