Rutgers Suspends Tuition For Furloughed Federal Employees

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Rutgers University President Robert Barchi announced Tuesday that New Jersey's state university will temporarily postpone collection of currently unpaid tuition, housing fees and other charges for furloughed federal employees or their dependents.

“This is an incredibly stressful time for students who are furloughed federal employees or for students whose parents are currently furloughed,” Barchi said. “This is one way that we can minimize that stress and eliminate disruption of academic careers while the federal shutdown continues."

Qualified students will have any unpaid balances on their term bills placed in suspension until the partial government shutdown ends. Students will be required to self-identify and demonstrate that they or their parents are furloughed federal employees.

The temporary program will be applicable to any balances in excess of any federal student loans, grants or work study program – all of which are unaffected by the partial government shutdown. The appropriation for the U.S. Department of Education, which funds those programs, was approved by Congress and enacted by the President in September of last year.

The furlough assistance will be available to all qualified Rutgers students.

Any postponed balances will become due following the end of the shutdown. No late fees or interest on balances will be assessed.

“The Rutgers community is compassionate and caring when adversity strikes. This is another way that we can care for students who, through no fault of their own, would otherwise be facing the prospect of having their academic careers interrupted,” Barchi said.

The University earlier this year doubled funding for the food banks operating on all campuses. This funding increase will help address increased use of the pantries by students in the event that Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Payments (SNAP) are curtailed in March because of the shutdown.

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