As Other USM Students Receive Refunds of Fees, FSU Students Wait

Frostburg State University announced that a prorated reimbursement of student fees, including room and board, is forthcoming as a result of COVID-19 distance-learning measures. Meanwhile, other University System of Maryland (USM) students have already received their refunds. 

The first formal announcement of reimbursed student fees was made by USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman in a statement delivered on Thursday, March 19. In his statement, Perman wrote “fair adjustment of costs associated with room and board” had unified support by all USM campus presidents. Perman went on to write  “we recommend, as well, prorated refunds of various university fees. In the short term, we think students and families should be able to know how much money is coming back to them through these refunds, and our campuses are working on how we might do that.”

In a second formal announcement, on Friday, March 27, Perman elaborated on his previous comments. He wrote, “each of our universities will soon be announcing policies for the fair adjustment of student fees, including the costs associated with room, board, parking, and athletics.” He goes on to say refunded fees will be calculated by each institution on a prorated basis and information would be shared by individual institutions. Perman ends by saying  “providing these refunds is a high priority among USM university leaders.” 

On the same day of Perman’s second announcement, Salisbury University published a statement at 1:40 p.m. The Salisbury University Cashiers Officer wrote, “it is our goal to have all credits on the student account and all refunds issued within seven to ten business days beginning on Friday, March 27.” 

The Salisbury announcement came with detailed calculation information about how each fee reimbursement, including room and board, was being handled. “In most situations, we will provide a refund equal to 54 days, or 53.47%,” they reported. 

On Thursday, April 2, Twitter exploded with comments from Towson University students. “Towson students did ya’ll see that refund,” wrote one. Another user said, “Wow semester refund has landed. Towson thank you for keeping your word.”

Towson had also issued a public statement on Friday, March 27 that early the next week, “TU will share details regarding the prorated refunds for students.” Detailed calculation information was not provided by Towson. 

For reference, Salisbury University has a total of 7,620 full-time undergraduate and graduate students. Towson University has 18,226 full-time students. Frostburg State University has 3,758.

As for what fees are being reimbursed to FSU students, Liz Medcalf, Director of Communications says that, “According to Leon Wyden, Vice President for Administration and Finance, any fees that are not technology fees or course fees” will be reimbursed. She could not provide a comprehensive list by email on Monday, March 30, but said it would “include activity fees, athletic fees, sustainability fees, auxiliary facilities fees, and parking.” On March 30, Medcalf also said “there will be another message for students later today. We’re waiting for clarification on the governor’s order today.” 

Students did receive an email from President Ronald H. Nowaczyk on Monday, March 30. The email update did not include any information regarding student fee reimbursement. 

TBL reached out to Medcalf on Thursday, April 2 for an update on fee reimbursement. Medcalf responded and said, “the first refund letter, which went out on March 25, said that they would hear more in 7 to 10 days. That time hasn’t passed yet.” 

The official notification Medcalf is referring to was received by FSU students on Wednesday, March 25 by the University Billing Office. In their email, they wrote that the process of refunding fees “will take some time to determine.” Furthermore, they wrote, “when the refund amount is determined, the amount will be credited to each student’s account, and you will be notified in the next 7 to 10 days of the date when this credit will occur.” The expiration of the 10 day period is Saturday, April 4.

The perceived delay in reimbursement for Frostburg students was noted during the Thursday, April 2 SGA meeting. A student who asked to remain anonymous asked SGA President Jenna Puffinburger for an update about refunded fees. Puffinburger responded, “I have not heard an exact date” and “a date for when to expect fees is important, and I will relay that to [the administration] and hopefully get some answers.” 

Some students have reached out to the administration for updates, themselves.

Senior Mario Oliva wrote on social media that he had “spent 30 minutes on the phone this morning [April 2] to be told it’s still being decided by higher-ups. Two weeks now that I’ve been waiting for the remainder of my meal plan money so I can buy groceries.” 

Others echo Oliva’s sentiments. “I am not able to work and we haven’t received reimbursement while other schools have already got the ball moving. I provide for myself and I am unable to get help from my mom,” wrote an FSU senior who asked to remain anonymous. “It’s very unfortunate that they’re holding this money hostage,” she concludes. 

“We haven’t received any information on the meal plan,” says Junior Gabby Moss. “My job doesn’t have enough funds to continue paying everyone so my money source will be cut off and I’m genuinely scared with how I’m going to feed myself,” she says. “The only good thing Frostburg has provided is the PAWS Pantry.” 

As for the total amount that students can expect in reimbursement, Medcalf suggested that students refer to the Mandatory Fee page on Frostburg’s website.

President Nowaczyk told student leaders on a Friday, March 20 conference call the percentage of fees to be reimbursed would be “around 50%.” Nowaczyk also reported in a Friday, March 27 email to local officials that, “we expect the refunds for FSU to be somewhere in the range of $5 million, if not more.”

For full-time students, the following mandatory fees apply each semester:

$175 Activities Fee

$529 Athletics Fee

$325 Auxiliary Facilities Fee

$195 Student Union Operating Fee

$15 Sustainability Fee

$18 Transportation Fee

(Students also pay a $98 per semester Technology Fee, but this will not be refunded, per Vice President Wyden. Parking fees will also be reimbursed, but is not considered a mandatory fee.) 

If students were to receive a 50% refund on fees, as suggested by Nowaczyk, the approximate refund would amount to $628.50 per student for those living off-campus. 

Students living on-campus could expect much more, as room and board will also be prorated and reimbursed, but the approximate amount is highly individualized depending on chosen meal plan and dormitory. 

It is unclear whether FSU will provide calculation information similar to Salisbury University’s model. However, as the April 4 deadline set by FSU’s Billing Office approaches, students are eagerly awaiting clarification and details.

Update: In an email to students at 2:36 p.m. on Friday, April 3, President Ronald H. Nowaczyk wrote, “students will be receiving letters next week indicating the amount of any pro-rated refund for mandatory fees (excluding technology and course fees) and on-campus room and meal plans.”

Nowaczyk did not indicate a day next week to expect more information.