On March 18th, 2020, students attending the University of Minnesota returned to finish off the remainder of their semester. Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, this has forced administration to make the executive decision of continuing the semester online for faculty and students. Although the announcement received was extremely distressing to many, including students living on campus who were forced to leave their housing, international students, students with learning disabilities and many others, we understand administration has never dealt with a situation like this.

Students are well aware of the reason why it is important to spend the rest of spring semester online to encourage social distancing. We are well aware that this situation will require adaptability from all students, faculty and administration. However, as the students are being asked to remain flexible for the remainder of the semester, we ask administration to understand what this situation means to students and how this predicament has impacted us negatively.

According to Onestop.umn.edu/finances, under the Cost of Attendance tab, the cost of attendance for undergraduates 2019-2020 for Fall and Spring semester is approximately $29,028 for students with residency who are living in a dorm or an apartment, and $21,946 for students with residency who are living with a parent. Cost of tuition spikes for students who do not have residency at $48,826 for the undergraduate 2019-2020 year. Keep in mind the unjust tuition hikes that have additionally applied to the student body by our institution. This cost of attendance is meant to cover the faculty, service workers, facilities, tools, and other learning resources we are offered by our institution. For many students, without access to these resources, they can not benefit fully from the quality of education the University of Minnesota is currently offering their students. 

There is no doubt that the Covid-19 outbreak has created mutually difficult circumstances for all learning institutions. We are demanding as students that the University of Minnesota steps up and takes accountability for the loss of resources through the form of partial tuition refunds for its students. We are comfortable knowing that administration is updating us throughout the course of these events, but they will need to do more than sending out carefully worded emails. As a student at the University of Minnesota, I am representing two demands for this partial tuition refund on behalf of my student body. 

Demand #1

Administration must grant a partial refund, at least half of our Student Services fee ($454.24).

Demand #2

Administration must grant a partial refund in the amount of the prorated tuition for Spring semester (starting from March 18th, 2020 to the final day of instruction, May 4th, 2020).

The student body did not agree to pay *insert cost of attendance for Spring semester* for half of a semester of what we were promised, and half of a semester of online instruction. We understand what must be done, and we demand further action and compliance on the part of University of Minnesota leadership. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.