New Jersey Students: The fate of in-state tuition depends on you!
Bill S1036, the in-state tuition bill, would allow all New Jersey residents to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education in New Jersey. Currently, undocumented students who have grown up in NJ are required to pay out of state rates making it nearly impossible for them to attend college.
Please send letters in support of New Jersey in-state tuition to your local legislators and Senate Budget Committee no later than Monday, December 21st to list and vote in favor of Senate bill S1036 on January 4th. For those who would benefit from this bill, it is important that they hear from YOU and that they hear your story. This is the time to come out of the shadows and speak up!
It is crucial that we get this bill on Corzine's desk before he leaves office and it is URGENT that the Senators hear from everyone in support. We cannot wait 4 more years!
Call your legislators NOW!
Please fax or email the letter pasted below with your name and town where you're from.
To find your local legislators please follow this link:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/municipalities.asp
for more information please contact Martin at martin@nysylc.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sample letter:
Dear (Legislator's name) ,
We are calling upon you to support the S1036/A990 bill that would allow undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education. This will benefit a small but crucial group of students that have graduated with good scores who have attended at least three years of high school in New Jersey.
Currently, these students are required to pay out of state tuition rates which could be up to double the resident state tuition rates. For many the higher rate goes beyond their financial means impeding their ability to attend college. We are seeking college tuition rate parity with fellow New Jersey graduates. This bill would simply allow tuition parity for all New Jersey residents who have attended high school in New Jersey for three years.
This bill affects students who have grown up in New Jersey that have attended and graduated from New Jersey public or non-public school system, who are residents with New Jersey roots who are committed to becoming citizens. Very often these students came to this country because their family was fleeing political or economic instability, a decision made by the parents not the student. Yet, despite the many obstacles they have faced, these students worked hard and succeeded in school. New Jersey should reward them for their hard work, initiative and desire to pursue higher education to become productive members of our communities. When talented students in our communities are prevented from reaching their full potential, we all suffer.
Eleven states (New York, Texas, California, Illinois, Utah, Washington, and Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska and Wisconsin) have already enacted similar legislation. We hope New Jersey will join this list.
Thank you for your support.
Your Name:
Address (Just the town/city is fine):
