Columbia University Class Action Seeks Coronavirus Refunds

A Columbia University student has lodged a class action lawsuit against the institution seeking a refund representing tuition and fees paid for on-campus services rendered impossible by COVID-19 restrictions.

The lead plaintiff, identified only as “Student A,” acknowledges that Columbia University did the “right thing” when it closed its New York campus to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

“Defendant’s Spring semester was scheduled and contracted to consist of approximately 120 days,” states the complaint. “However, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Defendant announced on March 12, 2020 that it was moving all classes online for the remainder of the semester. Defendant also encouraged most students to move out of their residence halls.”

However, the plaintiffs argue that “this decision deprived Plaintiff and other members of the Class from recognizing the benefits of in-person instruction, access to campus facilities, student activities, and other benefits and services in exchange for which they had already paid fees and tuition.”

Are you a Columbia University student? Do you think that you and other students should get a refund? Get legal help here.

According to the Columbia University class action lawsuit, the institution has refused to adequately reimburse students for activities that it is no longer providing to students.

Student A says that Columbia has either not provided or arbitrarily provided reimbursements that do not reflect the costs students paid for activities that are no longer possible.

The plaintiff explains that he is currently enrolled as a full-time student at Columbia but says he does not want to reveal his name to avoid any retaliation for filing the class action lawsuit.

The student alleges that he paid “substantial tuition” for spring 2020 at Columbia using student loan financing and his out out-of-pocket money with the expectation he would receive in-person, hands-on curriculum and instruction.

In addition, Student A claims that he also paid for room and board at Columbia for the spring term, but moved out at the request of the university before March 17, 2020.

“Defendant has recognized and admitted the inherent value of in person instruction versus online instruction. Defendant’s institution offers certain degrees on an online basis in addition to the in-person degrees that it offers to students such as Plaintiff and members of the Tuition Class,” alleges the Columbia University class action lawsuit.

“Upon information and belief, a degree from Defendant’s online programs carries a significantly lower tuition than the same degree earned on-campus.”

The Columbia University class action lawsuit points out that the online-only version of the university’s degree in social work is substantially less expensive expensive than the on-campus version.

A student who takes classes online only will pay approximately $10,000 less than a student who opts for in-person classes in a single academic year, explains the plaintiff.

The Columbia University class action lawsuit argues that the extra tuition and fees paid by on-campus students goes to cover the following activities and services:

• In-person interactions with instructors, other students, and mentors
• Access to amenities, like labs, study halls, and libraries
• Participation in student government and student union activities
• Access to extracurriculars, like intramurals and clubs
• Access to art, culture and other campus activities
• The opportunity for independence and socialization
• In-person learning opportunities
• Networking

“Plaintiff’s education has been changed from in-person, hands-on learning to online instruction,” the Columbia University class action lawsuit argues. “Plaintiff’s online instruction is not commensurate with the same classes being taught in person.”

The Columbia University class action lawsuit says that the plaintiff and other students were required to pay some fees which reflect benefits that can only be obtained with an on-campus experience.

In addition, the degrees that Student A and others receive “will be diminished for the rest of their lives,” alleges the complaint, because of the pass/fail grades that will be used during this online learning period.

Student A claims that Columbia students began petitioning for refunds “almost immediately” after the campus closed and classes were moved online.

In addition, the complaint notes that while Columbia has announced that it will provide a partial refund to students for room and board fees, the plaintiff is reserving the right to file allegations should the refunds not be issued.

The class action lawsuit seeks to represent two Classes of Columbia students: those who paid tuition for live in-person instruction and those who paid fees for classes during the spring 2020 semester.

The plaintiff and proposed Class Members are represented by Edward Toptani of Toptani Law PLLC and Eric M. Poulin and Roy T. Willey IV of Poulin Law Firm LLC.

The Columbia University Student Refund Class Action Lawsuit is Student A v. The Board of Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, Case No. 1:20-cv-03208, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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