TCU still undecided on tuition costs for online courses amid coronavirus pandemic
TCU is still deciding how much students should pay for online courses in the fall, according to officials.
Due to COVID-19, many courses at the university will shift to virtual learning as the university allows faculty to decide which option they want to offer for the fall semester. It is unclear how many classes will be taught online instead of in person.
At one point, Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. indicated tuition costs would be less for online courses, TCU 360 reported.
In a town hall meeting on June 11, Boschini said if the university went online again, the administration would “have to give a steep discount to our entire student body,” TCU 360, the university’s newspaper reported.
But in an interview with the Star-Telegram on Wednesday, Boschini said the administration never reached that decision, and there would be no discount for online courses.
On Thursday, the university’s answer shifted again. The administration said in an email that a decision had not been made about tuition.
“Like every other institution responding in real time to a COVID-19 crisis that is evolving daily, discussions regarding tuition will continue,” a spokeswoman said via email. “We will inform our families of any changes as soon as possible.”
Since May, TCU has lost $50 million due to the coronavirus pandemic, Boschini told the Star-Telegram on Wednesday.
“And we’re losing more money now,” he said. “My goal is to keep 2,400 people employed here.”
Various other Texas universities have announced they will not offer decreased tuition for online courses. UT Austin, University of Houston, University of North Texas and Texas Tech will charge the same rate for classes whether or not they take place online, the Texas Tribune reported.
In more than 50 lawsuits across the country, students are demanding a refund and compensation from universities after courses were shifted online due to coronavirus, Bloomberg reported.
This story was originally published July 13, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
