In the wake of COVID-19, college students across America are filing lawsuits against their universities. They are advocating for tuition and room and board refunds, claiming their online education does not fairly substitute in-person teaching. Roughly 200 petitions have been started.
It is justifiable to request room and board refunds. Students are no longer being housed and fed by their college. But it is not justifiable to ask for a refund of tuition. Students must hop off their high horse and ground themselves in reality.
We have stumbled upon unprecedented times. A virus has swept across the globe, uprooting everyone’s daily lives. Most universities reacted in the moment with what they deemed the best alternative. It was not safe to remain on campus since dormitories and classrooms are like petri dishes. The most logical option was online classes. So over the span of two weeks, universities throughout the nation spent hours transitioning their students to online platforms and preparing professors for virtual learning. Many students and faculty had no experience with online teaching before the pandemic struck.
Given these circumstances, we are fortunate to still be receiving an education at all. I understand the frustration of sitting on Zoom for multiple hours. It is not ideal. In the first week or two, there were technological problems on both the learner and educator’s sides. However, we’re in this together.
Rather than complaining about the online classes that are beyond anyone’s control, let us appreciate we have them. Many of us are still receiving the same material we would have in-person. The only difference is the medium from which we are attaining it. The on-campus resources that students would normally get were also translated into digital formats.
It is understandable to be upset that your on-campus experience has vanished and alongside it access to facilities and events. Yet, how can colleges reasonably accommodate this shift? Each student, faculty and staff member is dealing with their own unique situation. It is not realistic for the university to adjust tuition based on variable and unexpected circumstances.
It is important to acknowledge how schools set their tuition rates. One important factor is the money needed for operations. This covers things such as amenities and energy costs. Since these facilities are no longer in use, students could make a case to subtract the expenses that are no longer applicable to them from overall tuition. However, this method is tedious and would require a detailed look at where every nickel and dime is dispersed. It would most likely amount to a disappointing refund far from what the student imagined.
Don’t turn your back on your university. Instead, work with faculty and staff to try and make it this the best experience it can be. No matter how much people try to wrangle money out of universities, it will not change the fact that classes must be taken remotely. If online classes are truly not working for a student, a call to the university is required to deal with it on an individual basis.
I am grateful for the work and commitment schools have put in to ensure students can still get an education. I cannot help but wonder if a lawsuit is really the thank you message we should be sending.
