They’re leading by example!
Hampton University has canceled all outstanding student balances for the Spring 2022 semester, Hampton University News reports.
The Virginia HBCU has been leading the charge in financial and economic relief for students since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2020, University President Dr. William R. Harvey and his wife made a $100,000 donation to assist with financial relief, providing every student on campus $100 towards travel costs. In May of that year and again in 2021, the University issued direct deposits to graduates with federal student loans totaling $500 to help with repayment. Students who didn’t have any loans received a $150 reimbursement.
Last year, the University kept the charitable initiatives going, announcing that they would be covering all outstanding balances owed by returning undergraduate students enrolled at the end of the spring 2021 semester. They also issued a $200 book scholarship for students enrolled for the Spring 2022 semester, raised the campus minimum wage to $15 per hour, and issued end of year bonuses for faculty and staff of $200.
“The holiday season is a time of sharing. In that spirit, I am giving every Hampton University employee an Appreciation Bonus of $200 as a Christmas gift, and the University is increasing the minimum wage from $13 an hour to $15 an hour, effective January 1, 2022. It is my hope that the Appreciation Bonus and the wage increase will be beneficial to you and your family,” Harvey previously announced.
Now, the University is continuing its efforts, looking to ease financial hardships for students by canceling all outstanding student account balances for the Spring 2022 semester. Dr. Harvey has also said that Hampton will not be increasing their tuition, fees, room and board for the 2022-2023 academic year.
“I am pleased to announce that all outstanding balances for the Spring 2022 semester will be erased. We hope that this action will continue to assist our students and their families at our home by the sea,” Harvey said via statement.
Hampton joins a growing number of HBCUS who have also decided to forgive student debt balances in an effort to provide economic relief during the ongoing pandemic including Virginia State and Wilberforce University.
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