Requires public institution of higher education to adopt withdrawal policy permitting refund for certain extenuating circumstances.

This New Jersey bill requires all public colleges and universities to create a policy allowing students to withdraw from their courses and receive a refund if they face specific extenuating circumstances. The law defines these circumstances to include illness, injury, hospitalization, and mental health or wellness issues that prevent a student from continuing their education. Under the new rules, students who withdraw due to these reasons would get their tuition and fees back, as well as a prorated refund for room and board charges for the time they did not use campus services. The bill also mandates that institutions establish clear criteria for evaluating these situations and notes that financial aid refunds will follow existing state and federal regulations.