In light of recent events surrounding the coronavirus and its impact on business operations, Fourth View created the Return My Semester series to better understand how the virus has disrupted the education sector.
Fourth View sent FOIA requests seeking information surrounding finances and guidance connected to COVID-19 from approximately the time campuses began acting.
The California State University System responded to our request, which yielded only two emails. Michael Uhlenkamp, Senior Director of Public Affairs, sent a Wall Street Journal article to Garrett P. Ashley, Vice Chancellor of University Relations and Advancement, about college students demanding refunds. Ashley then sent that article to Chancellor Timothy White, Chief of Staff to the President at CSU Long Beach Karen Nakai, Executive Vice Chancellor and General Counsel Andrew Jones, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Steven Relyea, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs Loren Blanchard, and Vice Chancellor for Human Resources Evelyn Nazario.
The CRPA request sought communications, including emails, of Chancellor Timothy White, Executive Vice Chancellor and General Counsel Andrew Jones, and Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief Counsel for Business & Finance Dawn Theodora that contained the phrase “tuition reimbursement” or “tuition refund” during the months of February and March of this year.
Fourth View will continue updating this page as universities and colleges continue responding.