New York’s Governor will assist Howard University students who were unenrolled just weeks before the fall semester is set to begin.

Howard University unenrolled more than 500 incoming first-year students, ABC News reports. This was the result of their failure to meet a July 10 payment deadline. As AFROTECH™ reported, the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) claims students were contacted various times via email, financial aid communications, videos, and preparatory sessions.

“We understand that the enrollment update that was issued yesterday is difficult and disappointing for students and their families,” the school said, according to NBC Washington. “Confirming enrollment is essential to planning academic programs, housing, financial aid, and student support services.”

Students who were unenrolled were also informed that their $800 tuition and housing payment was nonrefundable. Among those impacted was Crissette Jones.

“I personally was having issues on the website where we pay our tuition balance, and I wasn’t able to pay until today, but in other students’ situations, they still had scholarships pending, military benefits pending, and we are currently two weeks before we have to move in,” she said in a TikTok video. “Tell me, Howard, what am I and hundreds of other students supposed to do now.”

Governor Kathy Hochul shared an update stating students who were unenrolled from the university will have the opportunity to seek admission to State University of New York (SUNY) or City University of New York (CUNY) institutions for the fall semester, according to a press release.

Participating institutions include SUNY Albany, SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Buffalo State University, SUNY Canton, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Old Westbury, SUNY Oneonta, and SUNY Purchase. Per the press release, they will provide expedited admissions and an $800 credit to students, offsetting the nonrefundable Howard University enrollment deposit.

“Hundreds of students, including New Yorkers, are scrambling and scared since they’ve been disenrolled from their intended college just a few weeks before classes are set to begin,” Governor Hochul said, according to the press release. “New York is home to the nation’s finest systems of public higher education, and we are ready to welcome these talented students with the opportunity they deserve. To every student who is worried that their educational future has been disrupted: New York is ready to support and empower you.”

Students and families are directed to visit the SUNY or CUNY websites for more information.