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Former Southern Methodist University football player Luke Hogan is suing the school for not reimbursing any of his tuition after the college’s pandemic-related move to online classes.
Hogan, who was a kicker on SMU’s football team last season, and is now a graduate student at the university, filed the lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, on Aug. 12 in Dallas County district court.
“Defendants were unable to provide in-person educational experiences, services, and opportunities for approximately 59% of the Spring 2020 semester,” the lawsuit claims. “Prior to the suspension of in-person classes for the Spring 2020 semester, Plaintiff Luke Hogan attended campus events and was involved in student activities and/or clubs.”
Related: Yale Student Sues School For Charging Full Tuition While Stuck Learning Remotely
“As a result of Defendants’ closure, Defendants have not complied with their obligation to provide in-person educational services along with other experiences, opportunities, and services Plaintiff and the Class paid for.”
And here come the lawsuits: Former SMU kicker has filed suit against school seeking partial tuition refund last spring, that may result in potential class action suit https://t.co/DRS0JPOTEW
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 16, 2020
The average tuition for U.S. residents attending SMU for the 2020 spring semester was $37,955, reports NBC 5.
Several SMU MBA students reached out to NBC 5 Responds in June after the school did not waive fees for in-person amenities for graduate business students.
Students in the in-person MBA program paid additional fees that students in the online MBA program did not pay for, despite the fact that the in-person program moved online in March.
In the NBC 5 Responds article, SMU said it offered credit adjustments for housing, dining and parking, but not for tuition or general fees for Professional MBAs or any student group.
“Along with information [provided above], the University is making adjustments to deal with a large budget gap created by COVID-19,” the school said in response to a question asking why those fees weren’t waived.
The SMU Mustangs, who went 10-3 in 2019, are still planning to play a 12 game season in 2020 as a member of the American Athletic Conference. Hogan, who has a year of eligibility left, will not be participating.