ComplaintsforMorgan State University

• Initial Complaint

  04/03/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Morgan State university incorrectly made my daughter, ******* ******** an offer as in state student. Her father and I made a decision for her to attend MSU based on the amount we thought the school cost, which is all we can afford. Some errors were made, and we had tried numerous times to contact them during the 2023 fall semester and nobody could help us understand why the cost was so high. We thought there was a double charge, where in actuality they were charging as out of state. Their lack of communication led us to not being able to drop out of school because they didn't let us know until the second semester, after I had tried to reach out to the President and the Dean, who were not helpful at all and just directed my email back down to student services where I received some run around again.

  Business response

  04/19/2024

  After reviewing the complaint, it has been determined that the student isn't being charged incorrectly. 

  We have attached a copy of our POLICY ON STUDENT RESIDENCY CLASSIFICATION FOR ADMISSION AND TUITION PURPOSES. Based on their admissions application, the student is has a driver's license in another state.  

  This presumption may be rebutted. The student bears the burden of rebutting the presumption. See "III. Rebuttal Evidence" below.
  II. REQUIREMENTS
  Before a request for classification to in-state status will be considered, a student must comply with all of the following requirements for a period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months (or shorter period indicated) immediately prior to and including the last date available to register for courses in the semester/term for which the student seeks in-state tuition status. The student must demonstrate that they:
  A. Own or possess, and have continuously occupied, including during weekends, breaks and vacations, living quarters in Maryland. The student must provide evidence of a genuine deed or lease and documentation of rent payments made. In lieu of a deed or lease, a notarized affidavit from a landlord showing the address, name of the student as occupant, term of residence, and history of rent payments made will be considered. As an alternative, a student may demonstrate that they share living quarters in Maryland which are owned or rented and occupied by a parent, legal guardian or spouse.
  B. Have substantially all of their personal property, such as household effects, furniture and pets in Maryland.
  C. Have paid Maryland income tax on all taxable income including all taxable income earned outside the State and have filed a Maryland Resident tax return.
  D. Have registered all owned or leased motor vehicles in Maryland for at least twelve (12) consecutive months, if previously registered in another state. Students who have lived in Maryland for at least twelve (12) consecutive months but who have had their motor vehicle(s) registered in Maryland for less than twelve (12) months will be
  3
  deemed to have satisfied this requirement if they can show evidence that their owned or leased motor vehicle(s) was (were) registered in Maryland within sixty (60) days after moving to the State.
  E. Have possessed a valid Maryland driver’s license for at least twelve (12) consecutive months, if previously licensed to drive in another state. Students who have lived in Maryland for at least twelve (12) consecutive months but who have held a Maryland driver’s license for less than twelve (12) months will be deemed to have satisfied this requirement if they can show evidence that their driver’s license was issued in Maryland within sixty (60) days after moving to the State.
  F. Are currently registered to vote in Maryland, if previously registered to vote in another state (no time requirement).
  G. Receive no public assistance from a state other than the State of Maryland or from a city, county or municipal agency other than one in Maryland.
  H. Have a legal ability under Federal and Maryland law to live permanently without interruption in Maryland.
  I. Have rebutted the presumption that they are in Maryland primarily to attend an educational institution, if the student's circumstances have raised the presumption.

   

  Additionally, the student hasn't followed the the steps here: ****************

   

   

• Initial Complaint

  11/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I would like to file a complaint regarding being charged additional funding for a meal plan for my daughter who is a student at Morgan State University in Baltimore Maryland. This fall semester the university experienced excessive enrollment and many students were placed in a local hotel as a supplement to campus housing. Most of my daughter's school costs are being paid for by parent plus loans, to which we have to pay back. There was no choice of housing due to the over enrollment and as a result we are forced to pay more than 5600 for dorm fees. Then we go to set up the meal plan, which was very confusing, we ended up choosing the 750plan after cancelling other plans. Then I notice that there is an additional $1000 mean plan charge. I attempted to change the plan but was unsuccessful. Then over the Labor Day holiday weekend, a email was sent out stating that students who reside in the Lord Baltimore Hotel must have the 1000 plan (this could have been stated at the time the students moved and or prior too, so as to alleviate the confusion) and that all meal plan changes were to be done by 9-2-22, which was a Holiday and I didn't notice the email until the day after the Holiday, but several requests had already been submitted. At this time the additional charge has remained on my account, and I have now been charged for two meal plans and per school policy the additional funds on the meal account just go away in the next semester and are not extended. I have reached out to many staff members at the university regarding the additional charge but have still not gotten the issue resolved. If this has happened to me, how many others are experiencing this. I would like to be refund the $700 that I was charged for the 750-meal plan.

  Business response

  01/03/2023

  Business Response /* (1000, 21, 2022/12/15) */ Contact Name and Title: Tami ****** - Quality Coo Contact Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX Contact Email: ****@davisvision.com We have attached a letter advising that we don't offer meal plans. We are an eye insurance company. Business Response /* (1000, 23, 2022/12/15) */ ***Document Attached*** Please see attached letter.

• Initial Complaint

  02/07/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I contacted the Bursar Office and First-Day Office about my issue several times by phone back in December, and they assured me that my Winter 2022 Opt-Out form was accepted and being processed. To opt-out, we submit a form through Google Forms stating we do not want to participate in the program, and the school is supposed to refund us the amount charged within our tuition bill. The charge for my Winter bill was $62.25. I then contacted them by email (both Bursar Office and First Day Office) about a week ago stating I needed to be refunded money towards the Barnes & Noble Opt-Out for Winter 2022 (as they charged me for it, despite having opted out). I was never refunded, due to the form being submitted twice (which I understand that under their policy opts me back into the program, but please read on as to how I was manipulated into doing this). From my account, I originally opted out on 12/6/21. I was then sent an email on 1/7/21 saying that if I did not opt-out, I would be charged for the semester. I called the Bursar to confirm this email was legitamtate, and to have them verify my submission status. The Bursar advised me to resubmit the form (so I did). This means I submitted a total of 2 forms for Barnes & Noble Opt-Out, after being advised by the Bursar to do so. Now I am being told by the First Day Office AND the Bursar Office, that because I submitted two forms (one on 12/6/22 and one on 1/7/22) for Winter 2022, the "opt-out" has been defaulted back. I relayed all the information I am giving you, to them, and their response (on 2/3/22) was as follows: "To follow up about Winter, "It appears you filled out the Winter form twice, which defaults you back into the program." The policy determines that a student who has not properly opted out within the deadline is responsible for all charges. This policy is firm, and while we appreciate your frustration, the matter is considered closed." I contacted the President about this matter following that response.

  Business response

  04/13/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 13, 2022/04/07) */ Please find the following response to the complaint XXXXXXXX. "Regarding BBB Case #XXXXXXXX, the complaint originates from a recently implemented program, referred to as "First Day", which is a solution to provide a modern approach to course material delivery, ensuring students have access to their materials before the first day of class. Morgan initiated this solution campus wide, through our bookstore partner Barnes & Noble, to provide an inclusive and equitable access solution aimed at improving student success. The program calls for registered students to be charged a book fee for electronic access to course materials versus buying a textbook in the bookstore. Students who do not wish to participate are required to "Opt-Out" of the program essentially foregoing the program's benefits. As with any newly implemented program, not all of the procedural "bugs" were completely worked out of the Opt-Out process resulting in the Complainant submitting his Opt-Out request several times effectively canceling the valid request to Opt-Out. Morgan is working with its IT team and program partner to improve this process, and the related policy, and expects to have a revised Opt-Out process for the fall 2022 semester. In the meantime, the Complainant's case has been favorably reviewed and the charges reversed. " Please let me know if you need additional information. Best regards,

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩