18A:71A-4. a. The Board of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority shall consist of 18 members as follows: the State Treasurer, ex-officio, or a designee; the Secretary of Higher Education, ex-officio, or a designee from among the public members of the commission; the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Educational Opportunity Fund, ex-officio, or a designee from among the public members of the board; five representatives from eligible institutions in this State, including one from Rutgers, the State University, one from either the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rowan University, Montclair State University, or Kean University, one from the county colleges, one from the State colleges, and one from the independent institutions of higher education in the State; two students from different collegiate institutional sectors; seven public members who shall be residents of this State, including one who shall represent a lender party to a participation agreement with the authority; and the executive director of the authority, or designee, who shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the board.

b. The seven public members, including the lender member, shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. No more than four of the public members shall be members of the same political party. The institutional representatives shall be nominated by the respective institution in the case of Rutgers, the State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rowan University, Montclair State University, and Kean University. The remaining institutional representatives shall be nominated by the respective sector association. Institutional representatives shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The student members shall be the individuals that the Student Advisory Committee elects as its chairperson and vice-chairperson. The Student Advisory Committee shall be created by the board to include students from all collegiate institutional sectors. The necessary appointments shall be made within 45 days of the enactment of P.L.1999, c.46 (N.J.S. 18A:71A-1 et al.).

c. Public and institutional members of the board shall serve a term of four years and until a successor is appointed and qualified, except in the case of the first members so appointed, four of whom shall be appointed for a term of four years, four of whom shall be appointed for a term of three years, two of whom shall be appointed for a term of two years, and two of whom shall be appointed for a term of one year. Student members shall serve a term of office not to exceed two years. Any vacancy in the membership of the board, occurring otherwise than by expiration of term, shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment or election was made, but for the unexpired term only.

amended 2012, c.45, s.97; 2017, c.178, s.58; 2021, c.282, s.58.