Some Howard University students have been unenrolled from the school just weeks before the semester is set to begin.
NBC Washington reports that the Washington, D.C.-based private Historically Black College and University sent an email to students who missed a July 10 payment deadline. Those students were told they were no longer enrolled in the incoming first-year class.
The university said it had contacted students several times through email, financial aid communications, videos, and preparatory sessions, according to the outlet. The school also said students would receive refunds for payments they had already made and any scholarships that had been applied. However, they would not receive a refund of the $800 tuition and housing payment because it is nonrefundable.
“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 have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the matter, including incoming freshman Crissette Jones, who said in a TikTok video that she owed $9,000.
“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 the video. “Tell me, Howard, what am I and hundreds of other students supposed to do now? In no email have you warned us that there will be unenrollment if we didn’t pay our tuition by the July 10 deadline. To all my other Howard incoming freshmen, I’m here with you. We’re all in this together, and we’re all gonna get through this.”
@loveucjs HOWARD DO BETTER!! #howarduniversity #howard #college #fyp
Howard University has responded to the matter on X, stating it “understands the concerns and challenges that students and families are experiencing related to the recent enrollment update for some first-time-in-college students” and will “remain committed to supporting students and families.”
The university said in that statement that it is also reviewing information tied to “pending scholarship awards and financial aid resources for impacted students.”
In the post, the university shared several contact emails for concerned students to further inquire about the enrollment update.
