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Pennsylvania State University agreed to pay $17 million to all students who were enrolled in classes during the Spring of 2020. The lawsuit filed by a student claims that when the university switched to virtual learning during that semester a lot was lost.
“It was very psychologically hard,” Graydon Tomkowitz, a Penn State graduate said about switching to virtual learning during that semester.
Tomkowitz was one of those students who had their college experience flipped upside down. He felt his classes weren’t what they would’ve been if they were in person.
“It felt like there was a lot of times when everybody was just kind of giving into the struggle a little bit and dropping standards,” Tomkowitz said. “It stopped feeling challenging, it felt like everybody was just kind of coasting.”
Tomkowitz was a Residential Advisor in the on campus dorms during the pandemic and saw the toll it took on students outside of the classroom.
“Students who lived on campus lost a lot more than students who lived off… I was an RA at that point and we weren't allowed to do anything with any of the students so all of that first year meet your floor get accustomed to campus never happened for them,” Tomkowitz said.
Now students like Tomkowitz will be getting a partial tuition reimbursement check in the mail.
All students who were enrolled in the Spring of 2020 across every campus - including Penn State Shenango - are automatically in the settlement. Each student can expect a small portion of the settlement amount, around a few hundreds dollars.
“I wish it could be higher. I think that there was definitely more value than that lost…It's a low number but it's better than nothing,” Tomkowitz said.
Students can opt out of the settlement by writing a letter to the Settlement Administrator by Jan. 6 at P.O. Box 2835 Portland, OR 97208-2835. The letter must include:
In a statement to 21 News Penn State denied any wrongdoing and said the settlement was to “avoid further expense, burden and risks associated with continuing litigation.”
A judge still has to grant final approval of the settlement. If that happens students can expect their payment around mid-April.
More information on the settlement can be found here.
Pennsylvania State Universities full statement:
“Like other colleges and universities across the country, Penn State responded swiftly in spring 2020 to an unprecedented global pandemic by quickly investing in the essential technology and digital resources needed to make critical online tools available.
Faculty immediately pivoted to remote instruction and staff transitioned to offering students the full suite of resources necessary to successfully complete their academic year, including access to research materials, career services support, health services and enhanced mental health counseling, and student advisory services. In addition, when needed, staff facilitated student access to social service providers. This seamless transition ensured that students could safely continue learning in the face of the COVID crisis, where in-person classes were not permitted under Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home orders and closure mandates at the time.
Penn State also gave room and board rebates, facilitated the distribution of more than $131 million in CARES Act funding and established, through the generosity of the Penn State community, an Emergency Fund to provide additional aid to students in need.
The University did its best to respond to unexpected and extraordinary emerging circumstances and denies the allegations contained in plaintiffs’ complaint and any allegations of wrongdoing. However, both Penn State’s and its students’ interests are best served by the prompt resolution of this matter. Therefore, the University has entered into the Settlement Agreement to avoid further expense, burden and risks associated with continuing litigation.”