HARVARD UNIVERSITY FACES COVID-19 REFUND SUIT

A class action lawsuit was filed in Massachusetts federal court last week against Harvard University.  The suit, brought on behalf of a proposed class of students, alleges that the university improperly retained tuition funds for services it is no longer providing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Specifically, the complaint alleges that Covid-19 is not an excuse for Harvard to breach the contract it has with tuition-paying students. It further alleges that the school should have refunded a pro-rated portion of tuition paid for services that were not provided.  In this regard, the complaint asserts that a Harvard education, which can cost up to $32,000 per semester, doesn’t have the same value when delivered online.  The complaint asserts claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and conversion. 

Harvard joins a growing list of educational institutions facing similar demands for tuition reimbursements from students who claim they aren’t getting what they paid for.  Complaints filed in the wake of Covid-19 by students have targeted numerous higher education institutions including the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University, as well as state systems like the University of California.

The case is Student A v. Harvard University, D. Mass., No. 1:20-cv-10968.