Hundreds of Students at Howard University Unenrolled Weeks Before Fall Semester
“I put in so many hours, late nights, to apply for scholarships, to make sure that I could go to the school of my dreams comfortably. And to have that ripped away isn’t fair”
This is all about a payment deadline that these students missed. People are really upset about it.
NBC News in Washington reports:
Hundreds of Howard University students unenrolled weeks before fall semester
Hundreds of incoming Howard University students have been unenrolled from the school weeks before the fall semester is set to begin.
Several of the unenrolled students showed News4 copies of an email they received from the university stating they missed a payment deadline on July 10, and, as a result, they lost their place in the freshman class.
Isabella Williams had already packed her truck and was supposed to start driving from Alabama to D.C. on Thursday.
“For us to suddenly be unenrolled from what is most of our dream schools is heartbreaking. It’s confusing,” she said.
Williams said she had scholarships to cover the rest of the balance, and had sent documents to Howard informing them the money was coming in August.
“I put in so many hours, late nights, to apply for scholarships, to make sure that I could go to the school of my dreams comfortably. And to have that ripped away isn’t fair,” Williams said.
“I rep them so hard, okay? I rep them so hard and I just don’t feel like I’m being supported or repped back,” said Dwayne Irvin, another student who was unenrolled after not meeting the payment deadline.
MarLae’ Coffield said that as of July 11, her account balance was negative and Howard actually owed her money, because she had more aid and scholarships than the cost of tuition.
“I’ve graduated early. I graduated my junior year and I had a 4.0, and I did all of that just to get into Howard University. And now I can’t go to Howard University,” Coffield said.
Howard University declined News4’s request for an interview but said in a statement the school repeatedly reached out to students and families between March and July, informing them of the payment deadlines.
The university said the outreach included emails, personalized financial aid information, videos and prep sessions.
“We understand that the enrollment update that was issued yesterday is difficult and disappointing for students and their families,” the school said in part. “Confirming enrollment is essential to planning academic programs, housing, financial aid, and student support services.”
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Comments
“Repping hard” is not a substitute for payment. That explanation was unintentionally funny.
This is an amusing mutually assured destruction situation by mutually irresponsible parties.
Well, he’s taking the four-year “Influencer” major, so…
What does it even mean? The only meaning I know for “rep” as a verb is “represent”. In what way did he represent the university, and in what way did he expect it to represent him, and what has either of those things got to do with paying tuition?
It’s not that deep. He thinks if he wears a Howard t-shirt he is endorsing the university as if he matters.
He’s not totally wrong as the value isn’t zero…it’s just well, well below any sort of meaningful compensation.
Yes, it means “represent,” but a very ethnic definition of “represent.”
It means something like “booster” or “cheerleader.”
“We here to represent the 4th Street Crips” and so on.
“I rep them so hard, okay? I rep them so hard and I just don’t feel like I’m being supported or repped back”
Can anyone translate this into English?
My SWAG is that REP is the opposite of DIS. Disclaimer: I don’t speak Jive.
What doesn’t seem clear is Was the payment supposed to be made by scholarships? One of the students said that they had financial aid and scholarships lined up that left Howard owing them money but it would not be paid until August. It seems to me if Howard is going to accept those scholarships and financial aid they should accept that they pay in August not July. If this is the student not paying the remaining balance after scholarships on time well that is on them but they really should not unenroll students because the scholarship will not pay in July, the student generally has no control over that.
Part of responsibility is that you don’t just assume it’s all taken care of if you are promised a scholarship. If they are late or fall through, it is your responsibility. When someone earns a scholarship, particularly one outside of the school, that doesn’t automatically make the school your agent to track down the money and get it paid. That is STILL the obligation of the one receiving the benefit.
Knowing this generation, they either did nothing or sent a half coherent response that basically said not my problem.
Them Nigerian scholarships are just tricky that way.
“For us to suddenly be unenrolled from what is most of our dream schools is heartbreaking. It’s confusing,” she said.”
Welcome to the adult world.
“MarLae’ Coffield said that as of July 11, her account balance was negative and Howard actually owed her money, because she had more aid and scholarships than the cost of tuition.”
Sure, because that’s the way it works — you get to keep the change from scholarships as walking-around money. Hey, it worked for EBT.
Well, yes. Scholarships and aid are supposed to help not only with tuition but also the cost of living.
They didn’t in my day. None of my classmates’ scholarships worked like that.
Obviously Howard University is another racist institution working to perpetuate white supremacy.
Poor entitled wienies. Wait till they learn about property taxes and mortgage bills.
“You’ll get your money, but it’ll be a month after you want it.”
Save me a seat for THAT.
So, IOW, they’re complaining about how unfair it is to have consequences because you didn’t pay on time? Tough noogies, guys. Now, figure out how to live in the real world.
According to the Smithsonian, being on time is “white culture.”
What you’re seeing here is culture shock.
Why is this even an article? First time it’s ever happened? Color me doubtful.
😭 First rule of life: Be on time😭
Did those impacted all have a scholarship from the same source? Is the Aug v July payment an annual issue? Is it a new/unproven scholarship source which Howard is unwilling to ‘front’ the $ for till Aug? Maybe an established scholarship source that’s proven to be unreliable/late in prior years so Howard won’t cut any slack?
The answers to those sorts of questions would be helpful. That said, it is 100% on the student to submit payment according to Univ deadlines. Nobody else’s job to do it for you nor does anyone have to wait on required payment until its ‘more convenient’. Adulting isn’t complicated; You and You are 100% responsible for meeting all financial deadlines and that includes researching whether a deadline exists, when it occurs and whether any outside funds will arrive in time to meet it or if you gotta go see Mr Soprano for small bridge loan.
The biggest tell of that girl was when she said that the scholarships “were coming”. Well then, this is a clear case of DID NOT PAY BY DEADLINE.
If it was your dream college, then financially plan better for contingencies. Otherwise, the adult world is going to really slap you hard in the face.
Shame on Howard. They sent emails, provided videos and online statements but no effort to speak with their students. If you are going to take the step to unenroll them, some person to person contact should be made. Not a good look for a university.
Make an actual phone call, like somebody’s grandma? OK, Boomer!
The students were accepted, put money towards tuition payment, registered for classes, etc. If you’re going to pull the rug out, you might want to figure out why hundreds of incoming freshman qualify for unenrollment. Maybe there is a problem with what the school is doing. I sent an email doesn’t quite justify their actions.