Howard University has an update for disenrolled students.

As AFROTECH™ previously reported, more than 500 first-year students who were expecting to attend the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) were recently informed they were no longer enrolled for the upcoming academic year. Howard University said students received an email stating this was a result of missing a July 10 payment deadline.

The university issued a statement emphasizing that confirming enrollment was important to prepare for academic programs, housing, financial aid, and student support services, according to NBC Washington.

Howard University stated that students were notified various times via email, financial aid communications, videos, and preparatory sessions. Communication from the university went back to March, according to Interim President Wayne A. I. Frederick.

“There were no issues as far as what we communicated,” Frederick told the Associated Press.

Frederick also said some students still had outstanding balances after financial aid and scholarships were considered, while others had not submitted required immunization records, according to the outlet. Regarding outreach from students and parents in response to the news, Frederick admitted it was hard to keep up with calls, but all emails received a reply.

Some leaders stepped in to support frustrated students, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. This includes New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who revealed students could seek admission to institutions in the State University of New York (SUNY) or City University of New York (CUNY) systems for their freshman year. Students were also told they would receive an $800 credit, which would offset an $800 non-refundable tuition and housing payment at Howard University.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore also shared that the disenrolled students could enroll at a participating institution in the University System of Maryland and were eligible for an $800 credit, according to The Jasmine BRAND.

Howard University is also working to resolve the issue and began meeting with parents and students last week, leading to more than 200 students being readmitted, according to the Associated Press.

Now, the university has reportedly begun readmitting some of its disenrolled students.

Among the students readmitted to Howard was 17-year-old Keana Johnson, who lives in a teen and young adult shelter in New York.

“I feel great. I do feel there was a lesson to learn from this. I shed tears over this and I was really disheartened, at first, but I felt like I couldn’t give up. Until I really got the final say-so that I really couldn’t come, I couldn’t give up trying,” she expressed to the Associated Press.