Oregon College Students Sue Universities Over Tuition Fees During Pandemic

Three Oregon college students are suing the University of Oregon and Oregon State University over tuition during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Caine Smith filed a lawsuit against the University of Oregon on March 19, according to CNN. Danielle Pranger and Garrett Harris both filed suit against Oregon State University on March 5.

Both suits seek unspecified monetary damages and “prorated unused amounts of tuition and fees,” as well as attorney fees. 

The lawsuits allege that even though students were sent home and campuses were closed amid the pandemic, they charged the same amount in tuition and fees. The attorney representing the students, Steve Berman, said that “his clients did not get the full value of what they paid for when campuses closed and switched to online sessions.” But the schools have so far denied the students a refund for tuition or fees and maintain the students received a quality learning experience.

“Oregon State University has remained open since winter term 2020 during the pandemic on its campuses in Corvallis and at OSU-Cascades in Bend. OSU continues to provide students a high-quality education [with] courses in person, remotely and online,” Oregon State University vice president for university relations and marketing, Steve Clark, said in a statement.

The University of Oregon said the lawsuit’s claims that the school’s costs have decreased are not valid. In fact, they claim operating costs have actually gone up.

“In fact, our costs have increased due to a variety of new technology and infrastructure investments needed to provide quality instruction and to protect our campus community’s health and safety,” the school said in a statement.

Hagens Berman, the law firm representing the students, has filed lawsuits against at least 17 other schools over tuition and fees paid during the coronavirus pandemic.