WASHINGTON (7News) — Howard University officials said so far at least 46 students have been reinstated since over 500 students learned they had been unenrolled weeks before classes begin.
Isabella Williams, an incoming freshman, spoke to 7News when she first learned she was unenrolled from the historically Black university. She has since been reinstated.
Williams learned of her unenrollment on Wednesday but was expected to arrive at Howard on Saturday for move-in. Williams took to social media sharing her experience, which went viral.
READ MORE | Hundreds of Howard University freshmen unenrolled weeks before fall semester
Howard Officials told 7News: The University sent notifications to 502 first-time-in-college students whose accounts did not reflect the required enrollment and financial obligations by the previously communicated deadlines.
Keyana Scales, Senior Vice President for enrollment management and student success at Howard, told 7News that the deadline was meant to ensure “students were aware of all of the things that helped them to manage our enrollment checklist so that they are arriving in the fall without having to go through bureaucracy relative to business processes,” she said.
The university has stood firm on its decision regarding unenrollment, outlining students missing pertinent information for the enrollment process.
Several incoming freshmen and families argued they had external funding, including military loans and other financial aid, waiting to be processed but received misleading information when attempting to get in touch with Howard’s administration office.
“What we have since realized is that there are a number of students who have indicated that they have actually submitted the information or attempted to satisfy our requirements,” Scales added.
Scales said the University is in the process of introducing an integrated program in January to create a more “seamless experience” for incoming students.
SEE ALSO | Howard University answers questions on unenrollment issue, admits to lack of resources
According to Howard’s website, the tuition payment deadline is listed as August 3; however, for incoming freshmen, the date is sooner due to “planning purposes to ensure resources are aligned,” Scales said.
The University has been reviewing cases based on whether students reached out to notify the school of a tuition payment plan or documented where additional external funding and scholarship money was located.
As of Friday, at least 46 students have been reinstated since students learned they were unenrolled.
Williams, who initially took to Instagram sharing her unenrollment experience just days before she was expected to travel from Alabama to D.C., moved in on Saturday.
“I’ve already made some great friends. I’m super excited to get started,” Williams said.
Other parents have reached out to 7News’ Jade Lawson, notifying her that their children’s enrollment had been reinstated.
7News has reached out to the University for an updated number of students reinstated.
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