Coronavirus could cost Rock Hill’s Winthrop University $7M
Coronavirus may cost Winthrop University up to $7 million, school officials said Friday.
Due to the virus, known as COVID-19, Winthrop moved classes online earlier this month for the remainder of the semester. The change has led to student and staff refunds and unexpected costs.
The Rock Hill-based university also canceled all on-campus events and will decrease tuition for summer classes, The Herald previously reported.
Interim President George Hynd informed the board of trustees of potential revenue losses Friday, a release states.
Effective Friday, the board initiated a temporary hiring freeze on some vacant state-funded positions, the release sates. University leaders are working to reallocate funds toward technology and security needs related to online instruction and campus closure.
“These are not easy decisions to make, but they are warranted to ensure that we have the resources to continue to engage in exceptional teaching, learning, and service; be an employer of choice; and support our current faculty and staff as we move into the future,” Hynd said in a prepared release.
Winthrop is expected to receive help from state and federal funds, but how much and when the university would receive those funds is unknown, states the release.
Board chair Glenn McCall said Winthrop’s administration will “work together to move the university forward.”
“The Board of Trustees certainly recognizes the challenges COVID-19 presents not only for those involved in teaching and learning, but also for business operations,” McCall said in a prepared student. “These are times the likes of which we have never experienced as a university community.”
Refunds for students
For weeks, Winthrop officials have been evaluating potential refunds for students, the release states.
The university will not refund tuition or fees, based on guidance from the Commission on Higher Education.
“Students are still taking classes, and they have access to the library, post office, and health and counseling services, among other offerings,” states the release.
Other areas such as housing, dining and parking charges, may warrant refunds, according to Winthrop.
The majority of students living on campus had to vacate their rooms for the semester. That change will cost Winthrop about $3.8 million in dining and housing fee loses, Justin Oates, vice president for finance and business affairs, said in the release.
“We expect to look at each student’s current bill to determine how adjustments will be achieved. Obviously, we want to extend payment deadlines, as well, to help our students,” Oates said in a prepared statement. “Parking fees are another area for which students can expect an adjustment.”
Parking, on-campus housing and dining charges will be prorated from March 23 until the end of the semester, Oates said in the release. Refunds will be first applied to unpaid bills on student accounts.
Admission changes
Hynd submitted a request to the board of trustees to temporarily change admissions criteria for summer 2020 and 2020-21 enrollment, the release states.
“Adjusting our admissions criteria will allow students who are still interested in Winthrop to be considered without them having to present standardized test scores at a time when testing may not be an option,” Eduardo Prieto, vice president for access and enrollment management, said in a prepared statement. “It will give us the flexibility to evaluate their admission based on alternative criteria if necessary.”
The board will review the request at their April 6 meeting.
Other costs
Winthrop spent $20,000 to bring home students studying abroad, the release states. Winthrop will give refunds to students and family members who paid deposits on future study and travel abroad programs.
The university has spent more than $1 million on costs related to moving to remote instruction, including technology, software and training for faculty and staff, according to Winthrop.
“The good news is that both students and faculty members are becoming acclimated to what is for some a new and challenging form of teaching and learning,” Adrienne McCormick, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said in a prepared statement. “We are seeing success, and that is heartening.”
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 12:00 AM.
