In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the landscape of higher education has been significantly altered, with a growing number of students seeking refunds for tuition and fees incurred during the abrupt shift to online learning. Le Moyne College, a private institution in Syracuse, New York, has found itself at the center of this debate, facing a class-action lawsuit from a 2021 graduate, Arthur Germakovski, who alleges that the college broke its contracts with students by moving to online instruction without providing refunds for tuition and fees. This case, which has now resulted in a preliminary settlement agreement, sheds light on the complex legal and ethical dilemmas that universities are grappling with in the aftermath of the pandemic.
The settlement agreement, which awaits final approval, proposes that Le Moyne College will pay $243,206 to create a common fund to compensate students who took classes in the spring of 2020. This payment, which could be used to cover lawyer fees, represents a significant step towards addressing the grievances of students who were unable to access on-campus resources and experiences due to the pandemic. However, the question of how much each student will receive remains unclear, with the named plaintiff, Germakovski, potentially receiving up to $2,500.
The lawsuit, filed in 2024, alleged that Le Moyne broke its contracts with students by not refunding tuition and fees for the spring 2020 semester. The college, however, argued that it did not specifically promise an in-person education and that online instruction fulfilled its educational promise. In 2025, a judge dismissed claims of a breach of contract regarding tuition but upheld the claims of breach of contract on fees, setting the stage for the current settlement agreement.
This case is not an isolated incident. Le Moyne is one of over 70 universities and colleges that faced lawsuits over campus closures in the spring of 2020. Other institutions, such as Syracuse University and Penn State, have also been involved in similar legal battles, with Penn State agreeing to pay students $17 million in a settlement. These cases highlight the widespread impact of the pandemic on higher education and the challenges that institutions are facing in navigating the legal and financial implications of their responses to the crisis.
The settlement agreement with Le Moyne College raises important questions about the responsibilities of universities in the face of unforeseen circumstances. It also underscores the need for institutions to be more transparent and responsive to the needs of their students, particularly in times of crisis. From my perspective, this case serves as a reminder that universities must strive to uphold their commitments to students, even in the most challenging of circumstances. It also highlights the importance of legal recourse for students who feel that their rights have been violated.
In my opinion, the settlement agreement with Le Moyne College is a significant step towards addressing the grievances of students who were affected by the pandemic. However, it also raises broader questions about the role of universities in society and the responsibilities that institutions have to their students. As we move forward, it will be crucial for universities to learn from these experiences and to work towards creating more resilient and responsive systems that can better support students in the face of future crises.
