SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3979

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 15, 2025

      The Senate Higher Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3979.

      This bill directs each institution of higher education to designate at least one employee to serve as a student parent liaison.  The student parent liaison is required to ensure that student parents are both aware of and able to access the necessary services for their academic success.  The student parent liaison would, at a minimum, provide information to student parents on the availability of:

(1)  academic support services;

(2)  student academic success strategies; and

(3)  any other resources developed by the institution to meet the unique needs of student parents. 

      Under the bill, the student parent liaison would be the primary point of contact for student parents seeking accommodations or leave related to parenting.   Contact information for the student parent liaison is required to be easily accessible through the Internet website of the institution.