Maryland has offered expedited admissions at state schools to would-be Howard University freshmen who were unenrolled because of tuition problems.
More than 500 students learned last week they no longer had spots at Howard, one of about 100 historically Black colleges and universities in the United States. The university’s interim president, Wayne A.I. Frederick, told the Associated Press students who were unenrolled for financial reasons had outstanding tuition balances after their financial aid and scholarships were applied. Others were unenrolled because of unreported immunizations, he said.
Many wondered on social media where else they would continue their education so close to the start of fall semester at most schools.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the unenrolled can go to a state school in Maryland instead of delaying higher education. The state also will provide an $800 credit to offset enrollment fees.
More than over 200 of the 500 students who were unenrolled for the fall semester have been readmitted to the Washington, D.C., school, Frederick told AP.
He defended the way Howard handled the initial unenrollment, saying many students and their families apparently misunderstood the communicated financial obligations they were expected to meet before the start of instruction in August.
Some students and parents said they had trouble reaching officials at Howard by phone or email, leaving them unsure of how to resolve issues with tuition and housing assignments. Frederick acknowledged that the deluge of calls was overwhelming, but he added that emails were responded to.
The school received about 37,000 applications for enrollment this fall. About 2,200 incoming students remained enrolled after 502 were removed last week, Frederick said.
