Colleges face student lawsuits seeking refunds after coronavirus closures
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Re: Colleges face student lawsuits seeking refunds after coronavirus closures
#2Refunds are a pretty hard thing for universities to do though, in a lot of cases the money has already been spent. If the question is how much they charge for next semester (assuming closure or mostly online learning) then I think there's a stronger argument to not charge students as much.
The student perspective is basically that you're already paying so much, that the least the university can do is do good on what's being paid for or in the event where that is not possible, simply don't charge for what's not going to happen in the fall.
Re: Colleges face student lawsuits seeking refunds after coronavirus closures
#3Refunds are a pretty hard thing for universities to do though, in a lot of cases the money has already been spent. If the question is how much they charge for next semester (assuming closure or mostly online learning) then I think there's a stronger argument to not charge students as much. The student perspective is basically that you're already paying so much, that the least the university can do is do good on what'…
This has no bearing on legal liability. If a business doesn’t provide the promised service “we spent your money already” is no defense.
Doesn’t mean universities lose the case, but whether or not they spent the money is irrelevant.
Re: Colleges face student lawsuits seeking refunds after coronavirus closures
#4Refunds are a pretty hard thing for universities to do though, in a lot of cases the money has already been spent. If the question is how much they charge for next semester (assuming closure or mostly online learning) then I think there's a stronger argument to not charge students as much. The student perspective is basically that you're already paying so much, that the least the university can do is do good on what'…
> in a lot of cases the money has already been spent
Then they can take out loans or go bankrupt.
I mean, if you paid for a Ferrari and the car dealer can only give you a Corolla, they owe you a refund - irrespective of how big their rent and salary bills may be.
Re: Colleges face student lawsuits seeking refunds after coronavirus closures
#5Refunds are a pretty hard thing for universities to do though, in a lot of cases the money has already been spent. If the question is how much they charge for next semester (assuming closure or mostly online learning) then I think there's a stronger argument to not charge students as much. The student perspective is basically that you're already paying so much, that the least the university can do is do good on what'…
This has no bearing on legal liability. If a business doesn’t provide the promised service “we spent your money already” is no defense. Doesn’t mean universities lose the case, but whether or not they spent the money is irrelevant.
What does have legal liability is an act of god clause. If any sort of language like that is in whatever's being signed this situation certainly qualifies.
Re: Colleges face student lawsuits seeking refunds after coronavirus closures
#6I think the offshoot of this will be that student/university contracts are about to become massive one sided EULA's with all liability on the student side.
Re: Colleges face student lawsuits seeking refunds after coronavirus closures
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
This has no bearing on legal liability. If a business doesn’t provide the promised service “we spent your money already” is no defense. Doesn’t mean universities lose the case, but whether or not they spent the money is irrelevant.
What does have legal liability is an act of god clause. If any sort of language like that is in whatever's being signed this situation certainly qualifies.
A force majeure contract absolves them of delivering their service. It doesn't mean they get to change their service however they see fit and keep all the money.
People up front for an in person semester. If they really want to go the force majeure route, they should return the money up front and renegotiate the rest of the semester.
Re: Colleges face student lawsuits seeking refunds after coronavirus closures
#8Refunds are a pretty hard thing for universities to do though, in a lot of cases the money has already been spent. If the question is how much they charge for next semester (assuming closure or mostly online learning) then I think there's a stronger argument to not charge students as much. The student perspective is basically that you're already paying so much, that the least the university can do is do good on what'…
> in a lot of cases the money has already been spent Then they can take out loans or go bankrupt. I mean, if you paid for a Ferrari and the car dealer can only give you a Corolla, they owe you a refund - irrespective of how big their rent and salary bills may be.
If they were forced to choose between going bankrupt and having traditional in-person classes, they would be offering in-person classes right now and allowing people to “opt-out” to the remote version.
These companies aren’t arbitrarily choosing to educate people remotely. They’re adapting to the situation.
Likewise, it would be unreasonable for employers to cut people’s compensation for working remotely under the assumption that remote work is less efficient and therefore the company deserves a refund.
Re: Colleges face student lawsuits seeking refunds after coronavirus closures
#9I was taking a class that transitioned online. (University extension school, biostatistics). So the networking and campus related activities don't relate to me. At the extension school, some classes were taught online already (this one was in person only).
I felt the teaching staff made a pretty huge effort to get things online and running well. I'm sure they weren't getting paid more to make the transition.
There was a general feeling of, this sucks but lets through it. It was a lot more work for faculty and students (It takes longer to learn material remotely, at least for me..). I don't think diplomas will have asterix next to them, saying "finished online", like the article indicates.
Going forward, what tuition is going to be if classes are online in the fall is another issue. I'm guessing universities will charge what they can.
Re: Colleges face student lawsuits seeking refunds after coronavirus closures
#10This is just the straw that is popping the college bubble.
My Alma mater has 15 administrators who make 2-3x more than the President did when I graduated. The President makes $5 million+. The VP/Dean of HR makes > $1 million.
Administrators took a 5% pay cut. Lots of professors are furloughed or laid off.
The school did all kinds of shenanigans to hang onto as much tuition/board/food money as they could. Students are not getting what they paid for, so of course they are suing.
It's the same story as every other industry in the US.. the administrators/executives trying to rob everyone blind while they can.
Alumni have been furious for years now, this isn't helping.