UPDATE/ADDITION AS OF 9 JULY 2020:

This petition stands with its original purpose with providing students a partial refund for the Spring 2020 semester.  However, being we are still no where back to a normal education and life is drastically different, this Fall semester will also be unlike any other.

Whether we are in a hybrid format or all online, it is going to be different. It's going to be different for Freshmen, looking to start their college life.. for Sophomores and Juniors in the bulk of their education... and for Seniors like myself, who are finishing it all up, looking to soak up their last moments at Kean.

We will not have normal activities like we have in the past, classes will be different, communication will be different, events will be canceled or modified, everything will be abnormal.

Yet again, Kean has not made any mention of a partial refund for its entire student body.

By signing this petition, you are agreeing we deserve a partial refund for BOTH semesters to alleviate some of the financial stress and emotional stress these past four months have brought on.

By sharing this petition, you are increasing its reach and ability to cause change.  Please consider standing up for yourself along with the rest of the student body who just want what's fair.

Stay safe, and stay healthy.

_________________

Although our current circumstances are unprecedented, we are not to be taken advantage of.

With Kean University's recent announcement to suspend all in-class meetings and convert the rest of the semester to an online platform, many of us students are suffering, in more ways than one.  While we are grateful for the University taking precautions for our safety, we are struggling, tremendously as a whole.

When we paid our tuition for Spring 2020, we were not signing away a check without reason.  We paid our tuition for all that Kean was offering us in exchange for our money: in-class sessions to build relationships and form professional experience, to utilize campus resources such as printers, computer labs, the library, in-person tutoring and 1-on-1 speech guidance, engaging in clubs and greek life, participating in on-campus activities, networking, and much more.  For some individuals, they paid a higher cost in order to dorm on campus, which has now been taken prohibited. We paid our tuition understanding its worth.  But now, we've lost the majority of what we were promised in exchange for our payment.

[Some or most of us-] We don't have access to printers, libraries (as they are shut down), computers, necessary tools (as per major requirements), equipment needed for labs and/or projects and more. And for those who were dorming, now have had to move out abruptly and go to a home environment that maybe isn't right for handling online courses, or doesn't provide a proper learning environment.  They paid for that dorm for January-May and only got a few weeks out of it. 

Academically, many professors STILL have not converted the semester into an online platform and students are left paying for a class they are not necessarily learning from.  The professors who have converted, and who are trying so hard to make this experience impactful, are still struggling to meet guidelines and leave us with effective material that we can utilize.  Even if we are still being given assignments or attending a 'virtual class', it is no where near as valuable as the type of class we paid for.

Many of us are not online learners.  We have been forced to a learning style in which does not suit us, does not serve us and does not benefit us.  With that being said, how is it moral to make the payment we made for in-class sessions carry over in a situation like this one?

While we understand the need to close down campus is not the fault, but responsibility of Kean University, we only ask for what is fair.  A partial refund for our spring tuition.  We paid X amount of money for Y amount of value.  As the value has decreased, our payment should be adjusted accordingly.

We ask that the Kean administration recognizes our great student body for all that it is, and hears us out during this time of need.  Don't take advantage of us.  Use this opportunity to do good.  Show the thousands of students that attend Kean that they matter, they are heard, and are appreciated.  We are asking for a partial refund in a percentage amount so each student is equally refunded a fair amount for what they paid versus what they lost.

I encourage you to comment below with your concerns or reasons for signing.  Again, this is only possible if we all speak up, and we deserve to earn back what is no longer being given to us.  Especially during these times.