The University of Washington has agreed to a $4 million settlement after being sued by students who claimed they were unfairly charged for in-person education they never received during the COVID-19 pandemic. A King County judge granted preliminary approval of the agreement, with final approval expected in July, according to The Seattle Times.
The lawsuit arose from UW’s decision to keep tuition and fees unchanged despite transitioning to remote learning in March 2020. Students argued they had paid for access to campus facilities, labs, and in-person instruction but were instead confined to online classes from their homes, The Seattle Times further reported.
Doctoral student Alexander Barry initially sued the university in 2020, and in 2023, a judge expanded the case to include tens of thousands of students as plaintiffs, Campus Reform reported.
UW has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that it acted responsibly during the pandemic by prioritizing student safety while continuing to provide education. A university spokesperson stated that UW had invested in technology, remote learning platforms, and student health services to support students during campus closures, according to The Seattle Times.
The complaint argues that the university “did not provide [certain] on-campus experiences and in-person courses” and refused to offer refunds for the shift to online learning in early 2020. When UW transitioned to remote education, it stated in a COVID-19 FAQ section that “tuition and required fees for spring quarter 2020 are not changing,” Campus Reform reported.
By April 2020, all of Washington’s public four-year universities had announced that classes would remain online for the rest of the academic year. Community colleges and most private institutions in the state followed suit, with many extending remote learning through spring 2021.
Under the settlement terms, students can opt out of the class action if they do not wish to participate. Those who remain part of the class will receive compensation, though individual payouts will depend on the number of eligible claimants, The Seattle Times noted.
This lawsuit reflects a broader trend of students suing universities over pandemic-related tuition policies. Several institutions across the country have reached similar settlements after students argued they were overcharged for an inadequate college experience, reports The Seattle Times.
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