Membership

The membership of EOFPANJ shall be open to all Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) professional staff employed by institutions of higher education receiving funds as set forth by the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund Act of 1968 (Assembly Bill 767).

The term "professional staff" means the EOF director and shall include but not be limited to the associate director, assistant director, counselor/academic advisor, faculty, and other professionals as identified by the EOF Professional Association.

All EOF staff are strongly encouraged to join the Educational Opportunity Fund Professional Association of New Jersey (EOFPANJ). In order to receive a reduced conference fee and vote at the Fall and Spring Conferences, New Jersey EOF staff must be a member in good standing.

The mission of EOFPANJ is to be the official liaison between EOF campus based programs, the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and the EOF Board of Directors. The EOFPANJ advocates on behalf of EOF programs which serve educationally and economically disadvantaged students. The EOFPANJ keeps abreast of and monitors legislation and policy decisions that may have a direct or indirect effect upon the EOF constituency. The EOFPANJ provides a venue for professional development of its members and a clearinghouse of resources relevant to the achievement of our mission.

The goals of EOFPANJ shall be to research, monitor, and interpret all proposed legislative proposals and drafts which impact on the delivery of services to our constituency. We shall provide direct input to the administrative decision-making process at EOF Central, which has a direct bearing on the distribution of Article III and Article IV funds to the EOF campus-based programs. In addition, we will share expertise and provide in-service training to EOF directors and staff.