A federal judge has given preliminary approval to a settlement that will require Penn State University to pay millions of dollars after in-person classes were canceled during the pandemic.
Due to rising fears of COVID-19 spread and recommended distancing, Penn State suspended in-person classes and closed campus during the Spring 2020 semester.
Last week, a federal judge approved (on a preliminary basis), a motion filed by former Penn State students to recover tuition costs and other fees that were paid up front before the university shut down classroom instruction.
Penn State agreed to pay $ 17 million to settle the suit, as part of a tentative agreement that was announced last month. However, the agreement was awaiting the judge’s opinion.
A final approval hearing is set for February 2025.
The settlement stipulates that it only involves students who were enrolled at all Penn State campuses during the spring 2020 semester, and who paid tuition and fees and were registered for at least one in-person class.
However, the amount being reimbursed to those who qualify is expected to be less than what they paid for the semester.
Under the judge’s recent order, a timeline was established for a settlement administrator to contact those who may be eligible. They will be provided a link to a settlement website via a website hosted by the university.
