KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Western Michigan University is offering refunds to students forced to leave campus early because of the stay-at-home order.
The university has modified its refund policy so that students who checked out from residence halls between March 11th and March 24th will have credit applied to their personal school account.
WMU is refunding students for currently paid-for lodging, parking permits, and meal plans meant to be used through the duration of the winter semester.
Student housing residents who had a meal plan during the 2020 winter semester will receive a $1000 deposit by the university, while residents without a meal plan will be sent an amount of $500 into their account.
All residents in student housing were asked to vacate their dorms by 8 p.m. March 24th. The university is allowing students in exceptional situations like international students, Seita Scholars, and others to remain in campus housing during the university’s partial closure.
Individuals who lived off-campus but purchased a commuter meal plan will still be eligible to receive a refunded payment. Those students can expect receiving a credit deposit ranging from $60 to $500 depending on the total cost of the meal plan purchased.
Parking permits are also being refunded by WMU, with parking services offering credits for previously purchased 2020-2019 annual parking permits and 2020 spring semester permits. Only studetns who have moved off campus and no longer use parking facilities are eligible for the refund.
Most of WMU’s Kalamazoo main campus and other locations are at a standstill during the COVID-19 outbreak with libraries, classrooms, recreation centers, and student dining effectively ceasing all operations.
All in-person classes were temporarily suspended by the university on March 16th for a two week period, with nearly all courses moved online and to remote learning platforms. The suspension was extended through the end of the winter semester on March 20th, with spring and summer classes potentially also held remotely.
