This is an email I am sending to multiple people at Howard to see if there is any help they can provide. Feel free to use this as a template and add or take away whatever you need. I have also added a list of people you can email as a reference

benvinsoniii@howard.edu - President

bursarhelp@howard.edu

Allison.Kerr@bison.howard.edu - Student Advocacy Director

awutoh@howard.edu - Provost and Chief Academic Officer

cynthia.evers@howard.edu - Senior Vice President for Student Affairs

karol.gray@howard.edu - Interim Chief Financial Officer

 

Good morning,

 

My name is Dazhai Brown. I am a senior film and television major, business administration minor from Newark, NJ. I am reaching out to inquire if I could get your assistance regarding an issue for students on our campus. Earlier this month students were notified they have roughly 17 business days (today, June 30, 2025) to pay all balances in full or risk their accounts going to collections risking their eligibility to return to campus and a harsh negative credit score. 

 

Traditionally I have always been able to pay my balance before the first day of class my returning semester. This policy change is completely new to me and other students. Most of us especially seniors are fearful of what consequences may arise if we are unable to pay the balance with such short notice.

 

Is there any way you can advocate for an extension and grace period so students can have more time to come up with the funds to pay back tuition and/or scholarship money to be disbursed for students who are actively applying.

 

Linked is a petition with over 1,000 signatures to allow students an extension on their payment: https://chng.it/7PQZg6jVTw

 

We all understand the need for deadlines but given that this deadline came with such short notice all we ask for is a more time to get our affairs in order.

 

Thank you so much