Ruiz Urges Review of Education Opportunity Fund Priority Tiers

Trenton – Senate President Pro Tempore and Education Chair, Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, sent the attached letter to the Secretary of Higher Education today regarding the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund’s (EOF) rules of prioritization for students applying for funding under the program. The letter urges Secretary Zakiya Smith Ellis to review the funding priority tiers to ensure students who participate in college readiness programs are given fair consideration.

The EOF was created in 1968 to support educationally and economically disadvantaged students for undergraduate, graduate and professional study at public and independent higher education institutions.  The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education administers 64 EOF programs at 43 participating public and private institutions and currently provides 14,000 undergraduate students with services.