Across California, students are seeking to recoup money paid for a college experience that has been dramatically transformed by the pandemic. A student at UC Davis has filed a class action lawsuit against the UC system. The lawsuit accuses the university of profiting from the pandemic. The plaintiff claims that it is unfair and unlawful for the school to keep money paid for general campus expenses, in a semester when students are not on campus. The suit alleges at least 280,000 students are affected by the fees. The plaintiffs agree with the decision to close campuses, but argue that it’s unfair for students and their families to bear the brunt of the financial losses related to the pandemic.
At California State University another student has filed a nearly identical suit. CSU said they vehemently disagree with the claim and will fight the case. CSU said that campuses continue to operate and provide student services remotely, such as counseling, advising, office hours, and even telehealth medical care. They’ve also set up a system for students to apply for refunds of dorm and parking fees.
