Garden State Times

The New Jersey Senate has approved a bill proposed by Senator Parker Space (R-24) that aims to extend grade options for dependents of service members in public institutions of higher education. Currently, service members unable to complete a course due to military obligations have four grade options. The new legislation, S-3052, seeks to provide the same flexibility to their dependents, defined as a dependent child or spouse.

Senator Space emphasized the importance of this measure for military families: “New Jersey is home to thousands of military families who are subject to unplanned obligations that uproot their lives,” he stated. “Under current law, only service members themselves are granted the ability to decide the outcome of their grade if they’re unable to finish the course, so it’s common sense to extend that same courtesy to their dependents who are frequently subject to the same unplanned obligations.”

For students who have completed at least 55 percent of a course, the available grade options include receiving a letter grade, pass or fail grade, an incomplete grade, or withdrawing from the course. If less than 55 percent of the course is completed, students may choose between an incomplete grade with faculty approval and withdrawal.

The full text of bill S-3052 is available for public viewing. For further information or comments from Sen. Space, contact Kyle Fischer, Director of Communications.