TRENTON, NJ — State Senator Troy Singleton (D-Burlington) wants to make sure that service members who pause their higher education pursuits to perform their duties in a branch of the military are able to return to classes when they can.

Under new legislation introduced by Singleton, Senate Bill 4157 (S-4157), public institutions of higher education would be required to readmit an undergraduate student who withdrew from classes because of service in a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces; active duty or active duty training in the National Guard or Reserves; or full-time National Guard duty under the federal or state authority. 

“If an undergraduate student takes a leave from school to enroll in the Armed Forces, we should be doing everything we can to support them upon their return,” said Singleton. “This legislation will help ease the transition back to college, ensuring they can pick up where they left off without any additional costs or academic penalties.”

Higher education institutions would be required to readmit students at the same academic status as when they had last been in attendance. 

A student would need to submit a written request to the institution seeking readmission for the next upcoming academic year. The higher education institution, which would be required to approve the written request, could not charge the student for any readmission fees, including an application fee. 

If enacted, the proposed law would take effect for the first full academic year after it is enacted. 

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