The interim president of Howard University said over 200 of the more than 500 first-year incoming students who were unenrolled for the fall semester have been readmitted to the Washington, D.C. school.
In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Wayne A. I. Frederick defended the way the historically Black university handled the initial unenrollment, saying many students and their families apparently misunderstood the communicated financial obligations they were expected to meet before the start of instruction in August.
“There were no issues as far as what we communicated,” Frederick said, adding that the school had been clear since March about unpaid balances for tuition that were due by mid-July.
Students who were unenrolled for financial reasons had outstanding tuition balances after their financial aid and scholarships were applied, he said. Others were unenrolled because of unreported immunizations.
“I don’t think it’s just a simple matter of right or wrong. I think Howard adhered to its policies or procedures,” Frederick said.
