Rider University Faces Class Action Demanding Tuition Refunds in Light of Pandemic-Shortened Spring Semester

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A proposed class action against Rider University seeks refunds for tuition and fees paid for the Spring 2020 semester shortened by the COVID-19 crisis.

According to the case, the New Jersey school has refused to issue refunds despite transitioning to online classes on March 30 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit argues that by ceasing in-person instruction and barring students’ access to its campus, Rider has failed to provide the services and resources for which tuition and fees have already been paid.

One plaintiff, an undergraduate student studying marine sciences, claims her program “relies extensively” on in-person instruction and access to university facilities and equipment. She alleges the online education provided by Rider for the second half of the Spring semester is “subpar in practically every aspect” to the education she and her father, the second plaintiff, paid for through tuition.

“The remote learning options are in no way the equivalent of the in-person education putative class members contracted and paid for—especially given that the majority of Rider’s degree programs require significant studio time, access to design facilities, and/or collaborative efforts among students and between students and instructors,” the complaint alleges. “The remote education being provided is not even remotely worth the amount charged class members for Spring Semester 2020 tuition.”

The lawsuit alleges that proposed class members—those who paid Rider Spring 2020 tuition and fees for in-person educational services that are not being provided and have not been refunded—are owed a prorated portion of the funds they paid to the university proportionate to the amount of time left in the semester after the school transitioned to online learning.

The lawsuit comes on the heels of several other cases filed against colleges and universities over their alleged refusal to issue refunds for Spring 2020 tuition and/or fees.

ClassAction.org’s coverage of COVID-19 litigation can be found here and over on our Newswire.

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