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Financial Concerns

Student Emergency Fund

The Student Emergency Fund (also called the Lions Lifting Lions Fund) is a joint venture between the Division of Student Affairs and donations given by the TCNJ community. The SEF assists TCNJ students by providing financial support when they need assistance with unexpected, emergency expenses surrounding situations such as accidents, illness, death of a family member, fire damage, co-pay coverage for medical or mental health services, or the need for temporary housing or food. This funding is not intended to replace or supplement existing financial aid and does not have to be repaid. The SEF will not cover a student’s tuition or fees. Students may apply when they have exhausted all other resources.

Click here for eligibility requirements and the application.

Employment Assistance

For assistance in seeking employment, please view the following resources:

On-Campus

The Career Center – Roscoe West Library, Room 102

Student Employment
During the academic year, student employment is restricted to current TCNJ students attending classes at TCNJ on a minimum of half-time status (undergraduates 2 units and graduate 6 credit hours). In the summer, student employment is available to TCNJ and Non-TCNJ students, which include recent graduates and students from other schools. New and returning Non-TCNJ summer student workers are hired as supplemental employees through the Office of Human Resources.

TCNJ Handshake
TCNJ’s recruitment program allows students and alumni to submit resumes to potential employers and/or interview one another regarding possible employment opportunities.

Other Resources

Idealist

LinkedIn

Indeed

Financial Aid

Financial Aid – Green Hall, Room 101
The Office of Financial Aid counsels students on various resources to aid in funding their education.

Tuition Credit Appeal

To appeal for a tuition credit, click here: Tuition Credit Appeal Form

The College of New Jersey authorizes the Behavior Intervention Team (BIT or BIT Ad-hoc) to use professional judgment on a case-by-case basis for students with “special circumstances” that affect a student’s ability to withdraw from the College within the dates outlined in the academic calendar. The committee is authorized to hear requests for retroactive withdrawals and/or tuition credits. 

Qualifications

  • The tuition credit process considers only out-of-pocket tuition and mandatory fees, not to exceed 50% for the semester. 
    • Refunds, if applicable, for housing and meal plans are made in accordance with those contracts and are not considered through this process.
    • Students enrolled in First Day by Course will not be refunded the cost of educational materials, including course books.
      • Ensure students will not get refund fees for books 
    • Tuition and mandatory fees not covered by financial aid grants or scholarships (i.e. out-of-pocket expenses) from all aid sources are the only expenses considered for refund in the appeal. Refunds outside the timeline stipulated in the academic calendar will not exceed 50% for the requested term.

Process:

  • The tuition credit appeal process is not a replacement for tuition insurance. Should students have tuition insurance they must exhaust the insurance process prior to application for the tuition credit appeal. You can find more information on tuition refund insurance here: https://studentaccounts.tcnj.edu/insurance/tuition-refund-insurance/
  • Individuals who take a Leave of Absence (LOA) or withdraw during the 100%, 75%, or 50% refund period will receive the amount refunded in accordance with the academic calendar (https://academics.tcnj.edu/academic-calendars/) and are not eligible to apply for a further tuition refund.
  • Individuals who take a LOA or withdraw after the 50% refund period (in accordance with the academic calendar) may submit an appeal application to qualify for no more than 50% of out-of-pocket expenses for tuition and mandatory fees paid by the student.
  • Tuition credit appeals will only be reviewed if a student withdrew from all classes or took a LOA for the semester. There will be no partial distribution based on individual class withdrawal. 
  • Tuition Credit appeals will only be reviewed if a student withdraws from all classes (after the deadline) for the semester.
  • The BIT Ad-hoc committee will only review tuition credit appeals at the conclusion of each semester (twice per year).
  • All appeals must be submitted within two weeks of the end of the semester (as defined by when grades are posted for the term).
  • Appeal committee review meetings will be held approximately Feb 1st for the Fall semester and June 15th for the Spring semester
    • Summer and winter course tuition credit appeals will also be reviewed at one of these meetings based on the submission date.
  • If the committee approves the request, the recommendation will then be routed to the President for final approval.
  • Notification to student/family will be made after verification of approval from the President.
  • The decision made by BIT Ad-Hoc where a tuition credit appeal is not recommended is final.
  • The decision made by the President where a tuition credit appeal was recommended is final.
  • The BIT Ad-Hoc committee is the only approved body to review and make recommendations on any tuition credit appeal for the College.

Considerations for Tuition Credit:

  • Meeting an acceptable special circumstance condition allows BIT Ad-Hoc to review all pertinent data supporting the special circumstance. The existence of a special circumstance, however, does not guarantee that the requested relief will be granted.

TCNJ Acceptable Special Circumstance Conditions needed to request relief:

  • The special circumstances must have occurred within the semester for which the request for tuition credit is being sought.  
  • The student must demonstrate that, upon initial awareness of the special circumstance(s), they withdrew from the semester (in a timely manner) in order to prioritize their health and well-being. 

The following are examples that may be considered for special circumstances relief:

  • Significant and persistent documentable health and wellness-related conditions that directly impact a student’s ability to attend and/or complete course work (if accommodations can mitigate the situation, students should work with the Accessibility Resource Center);
  • Loss of a parent and/or caregiver; and/or
  • Hospitalization or specialized intensive treatment programs for health-related concerns.

TCNJ Unacceptable Special Circumstance Conditions:

  • Health and wellness concerns that can be resolved through accommodations offered by the Accessibility Resource Center and/or through working with the TCNJ Cares program;
  • Failure to abide by withdrawal deadlines;
  • Short-term health and wellness-related concerns that can be supported through the College’s withdrawal deadline; 
  • Delaying withdrawal from the semester after they are made aware of the special circumstances that gave rise to their withdrawal; and/or
  • Failure to procure tuition insurance in a timely manner after advisement of the availability of tuition insurance.

The Team will review each request for the following criteria:

Positive Considerations 

Self-help-seeking behavior. The extent to which the student has demonstrated, by actions or plan, a commitment to addressing the circumstances precipitating their withdrawal. Examples may include:

  • Self-selecting to be evaluated by a health care provider;
  • Committing to a therapeutic plan;
  • Committing to a recommended health care regimen;
  • Committing to other healthy coping mechanisms; and/or  
  • Committing to the resolution of any outstanding conduct or legal proceedings.

The extent to which the student has demonstrated, by actions or plan, a commitment to pursuing accommodations (if applicable and appropriate) to support their successful return to campus. Examples may include:

  • Investigating and contemplating a change in academic plan or major;
  • Establishing an affiliation with the Accessibility Resource Center;
  • Investigating and contemplating a reduction in course load;
  • Undergoing an evaluation by a health care professional regarding the ability to be successful as a member of the residential community; and/or
  • Committing to take advantage of other College resources such as the Career Center, Center for Student Success, academic advising, student employment, tutoring center, etc.

Negative Considerations

The extent to which the student has engaged in behavior that is a violation of College policy or law, placed the community at risk or created a substantial disruption to pedagogy or services. Examples of applicable policies may include (but are not limited to):

  • Student Conduct Code;
  • Sexual Harassment, Misconduct, and Discrimination Policy (formerly known as the Title IX Policy);
  • Academic Integrity Policy; and/or
  • Computer Access Agreement.

The extent to which the student has previously received a tuition credit. Absent extraordinary circumstances, a student may be eligible for a tuition credit only one time.

The extent to which the circumstances leading to the LOA or withdrawal occurred after a deadline established in the College Withdrawal Policy (i.e., the more time that passes after the deadline) may weigh in favor of a negative recommendation.

The extent to which the student could feasibly salvage the academic term by taking an “incomplete” grade with their professor and then finishing the work at a later date.

The extent to which the student was able to attend class and successfully complete coursework for the academic term.

If your circumstances fall within the listed reasons to request relief, please submit a complete Tuition Credit Appeal Form with the required documentation. Note that the ability to request relief does not guarantee that the requested relief will be granted.

Please Note: 

A complete Tuition Credit Appeal consists of the following three (3) components; (1) a letter, (2) a chronological timeline, and (3) corresponding documentation. The committee will only review appeals that are complete with all three (3) of the aforementioned components. If you do not submit all three parts of the request, your appeal will not be reviewed. All documentation must be uploaded/attached to this appeal form. Below you will find more information on each component of a complete appeal:

  • A Letter – Students submitting an appeal must submit a letter that states the request, which is a Tuition Credit Appeal, along with the semester/term for which they are requesting credit.  The letter should include what circumstances prevented you from withdrawing from your courses within The College’s withdrawal deadlines. All withdrawal deadlines can be found on The College’s academic calendar, which may be viewed here: https://tcnj.pages.tcnj.edu/academics/academic-calendars/.
  • A Chronological Timeline – Students submitting an appeal must provide a chronological timeline with all relevant dates of circumstances that prevented the student from withdrawing from courses prior to the deadline. Many students will provide these dates in “bullet-point format.” This document must be submitted separately from the letter.
  • Corresponding Documentation – Students submitting an appeal must provide corresponding documentation to verify circumstances listed in their letter and on their timeline that prevented the student from withdrawing from courses within the academic calendar deadlines. This documentation can include treatment verification, appointment dates, discharge documentation, obituaries, letters of support from on-campus offices such as the Accessibility Resource Center or CAPS, and other documentation that seems appropriate to support the appeal. 

The BIT Ad-hoc team meets twice per year to review all appeals. Depending on the volume of appeals, it may take anywhere from one to two months to receive the outcome of your appeal. 

The appeal process is not designed to replace other appeal processes at The College (e.g. academic dismissal appeal). 

Once a decision has been made, a letter will be sent to your TCNJ email account with the outcome of your appeal request.