UMD Student Association (SA) voted Monday night in favor of a resolution urging UMD leadership to recognize the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic on everyone  and to discuss tuition refund options. 

In February SA conducted a survey to hear from the community whether a refund would be something students should receive. Of the 674 responses, 97% voted in favor of a refund.

Respondents cited factors such as the online modality of classes and the vast mental health impacts the pandemic and subsequent isolation have caused. 

Of the minority who voted no, responses noted that people knew what they were signing up for this semester, as well as the impact a refund could have on the universities already tight budget.

The university planned a $5.2 million budget cut even before COVID added to financial strain on the state of the global economy.  

Student Body President Neal Bhakta said the purpose of this resolution is to allow several groups to talk about the issue and find a solution. 

“Administration has talked about it, faculty has talked about it, and it is not just students complaining,” Bhakta said. “There have been a lot of conversations that this is a problem, and I’m asking for ‘let's have a conversation and find a solution if we all identify this a problem.’”

Bhakta, the second-year president whose term ends in April, led the charge on drafting the resolution. When he passes the torch on to the next administration, however, he doesn’t plan on abandoning the motion.

The resolution is step one in getting administration to address the issue of a student refund. Bhakta says he plans to stay on and see the conversation through to the end, even if he is no longer the main contact.