Everyone is suffering because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and there has been a lot of talk about bailing out businesses. From the airlines to local family-owned small businesses, everyone seems to be talking about a different plan to relieve the stress and pressure that this pandemic is placing on industry. But not enough people are talking about the stress and pressure it places on those who are far more vulnerable than any business—students.

Yes, businesses are facing financial challenges that it is impossible to prepare for, and that includes colleges and universities. But the problem with the response is that these institutes of higher learning are responding as business, not as schools.

Students pay thousands of dollars to attend these schools, most of us borrowing absurd amounts from private loan companies, and it is not fair for us to pay for services that the schools are no longer capable of providing. 

Most colleges have ejected students from campus and moved classes online, and that’s great for public health and combating the spread of the Coronavirus. But it’s criminal to continue charging students as if they’re still living in their dorms, utilizing their meal plans, and taking classes in person. The fact of the matter is…we aren’t. The quality of online classes is questionable, especially when the classes were never designed to be taken online.

Some schools have already started refunding students for their room and board or their meal plans, but that is not enough. All schools should be reimbursing students, not just for room and board, but for tuition, too. We can’t pretend that nothing has changed, and it’s unfair to charge students the same amount for a completely different and less valuable learning experience.