- Cornell University settled a lawsuit claiming it failed to adequately compensate those affected by the decision to move all aspects online
- It was filed in 2020 by Cornell students who accused the institution of ‘breach of contract’ and ‘unjust enrichment’
- The $3 million will be distributed among the 24,000 students enrolled during the spring 2020 semester, although each person likely won’t receive more than $100.
Cornell University will pay out $3 million to students after switching to virtual learning in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The private Ivy League university settled a lawsuit claiming it failed to adequately compensate those affected by the decision to move all aspects online.
It was filed in 2020 by Cornell students who accused the institution of “breach of contract” and “unjust enrichment.”
They claimed that the transition to online classes deprived many people of in-person education, access to campus facilities and additional programs they had paid for.
The $3 million will be distributed among the approximately 24,000 students enrolled in an in-person learning program during the spring 2020 semester, although each person will likely receive no more than $100.
Cornell University to pay out $3 million to students after switching to virtual learning in response to the coronavirus pandemic
The private Ivy League university, led by President Martha E. Pollack, settled a lawsuit alleging it failed to adequately compensate those affected by the decision to move all aspects online.
Students claimed the move to online classes deprived many of in-person instruction, access to campus facilities and additional programs they had paid for
Cornell canceled in-person classes in mid-March 2020 and ordered students to leave campus by the end of the month.
But despite pleas and petitions to do so, some of their tuition and other costs were not reimbursed.
The university agreed to pay the settlement but has denied any allegations of wrongdoing and said “liability has not been found by any court.”
Joel Malina, vice president of Cornell University, said The College Fix: ‘Cornell is pleased to have reached this settlement, which both parties believe is in the best interests of all parties.’
Students eligible for part of the settlement do not have to do anything to receive the payment, according to the legal notice in the university newspaper Cornell Chronicle.
The payment will be delivered by mail or electronically and those who wish to opt out or appeal have until November 9 to respond.
The settlement has received only preliminary approval and a final approval hearing is scheduled for December 13.
The $3 million will be distributed among the approximately 24,000 students enrolled in an in-person learning program during the spring 2020 semester, although each person will likely receive no more than $100. Pictured: A virtual landscaping class
The university agreed to pay the settlement but has denied any allegations of wrongdoing and said “no court has found liability.”
If the agreement is approved, legal fees and other costs will first be deducted from the settlement.
Cornell Law professor Kevin Clermont said people “shouldn’t simply infer bankruptcy based on the small individual payout.”
He added that the meaning lies more in “(deterring) future bad behavior by persons in the suspect’s situation.”
About eight in ten students in America had some or all of their classes moved online in the spring of 2020.
It is claimed that the settlement reached by Cornell could set a precedent with students at other universities and encourage other lawsuits related to virtual learning.
Cornell decided to bring students back to campus for in-person instruction in the fall of 2020.
President Martha E. Pollack said at the time that it would welcome students back to campus — an option she said is best not only for their education, but also for public health.
The Ivy League university decided that residential learning, compared to delivering classes only online, would be safer for students and the broader community because it can ask students to participate in a screening program to detect and identify any spread of the coronavirus to contain.
DailyMail.com has contacted Cornell University for comment.