Michigan Universities Prevail in Tuition Refund Dispute Amidst Pandemic
In a significant ruling by the Michigan Court of Appeals, it was determined that four state universities are not required to issue refunds for tuition, room and board, and other expenses after transitioning to online classes during the COVID-19 outbreak. The verdicts, disclosed on Thursday, pertain to Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University, and Ferris State University.
The roots of these legal challenges stretch back to 2020 when the pandemic prompted the closure of university campuses across Michigan. As educational institutions shifted from in-person to virtual learning, some students continued residing in dormitories while attending remote classes.
Families involved in these cases argued that the universities failed to fulfill their commitments, seeking full or partial reimbursements. Conversely, the universities contended that they strived to provide continuous educational services under challenging conditions, meeting their contractual obligations to students.
The appellate court’s unanimous decisions across all four cases were marked by similar reasoning. In the Michigan State University case, Appeals Judge Stephen Borrello noted the efforts made by the university during the pandemic.
“It is undeniable that courses were initially offered as in-person classes and that on-campus events were canceled due to an unexpected global crisis, the pandemic,” Borrello stated. “Despite the pandemic, MSU successfully maintained the core of its educational mission—providing instruction and various services for students— throughout the pandemic. Furthermore, there was never an agreement stipulating that education and services had to be delivered in a specific format. Therefore, it is wholly fair and just for MSU to retain the tuition and fees it collected.”
While most claims against Western Michigan University were dismissed, the case was sent back to the Michigan Court of Claims to explore any potential breach of contract allegations by the plaintiffs.
The families have the option to escalate their cases to the Michigan Supreme Court. However, the state’s highest court has previously declined to hear similar cases, suggesting these appellate decisions might stand as the conclusive judgments.
