Messages from the University

Important Information About Refunds

Dear students and families,

Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic and in the best interest for the health and safety of the WashU community, Chancellor Martin announced on March 11 that we would shift to online instruction and restrict access to campus. Because of these steps, the university will be applying credits to student accounts for certain charges related to students’ on campus experience for the 2020 Spring semester. Credit balances will result in the issuance of refunds. 

The following University charges will be credited on a prorated basis of March 11: 

  • Housing for students living with Residential Life and Fraternity/Sorority LIfe 
  • Student parking fees 
  • A portion of student health and wellness fees 

The following credits will be applied on a student-by-student basis: 

  • Lost wages from work study 
  • Meal plan balances 

Note: Student health insurance will not be impacted. Students who have purchased health insurance through the university for the spring semester will retain coverage through July 2020. Further details can be found here

Refunds 

We will begin issuing refunds to students in early April. We know that receiving these refunds as quickly as possible is important to you and your families, and we are working diligently to properly credit each student’s account. We anticipate issuing one refund per student. This is a significant undertaking that will take some time. We ask for your patience as we work through this process. 

Direct Deposit

In addition, in this unprecedented climate, it is impossible to guarantee timely postal delivery of refund checks. We urge you to sign up now for direct deposit. To do so, students should log into WebSTAC. Select Billing & Bear Bucks -> Pay/View My Bill -> Sign up for direct deposit refunds. 

Personal Items on Campus

Please note, for students who have left belongings or vehicles on campus, we don’t yet have a plan to share about when and how students will be able to retrieve these items. We will share that information as soon as we have it, but it likely will be several more weeks before we know more about the accessibility of our campus to students, faculty, and staff. 

WashU Crisis Response Fund 

Many of you have asked how you can help our community through this extraordinary time. If you would like to donate refunds to the WashU Crisis Response Fund to assist students and employees with financial needs, University Advancement has created a Donate Form. Donations of refunds can be made through 8:00 AM, Wednesday, April 8, 2020. After that, if you would like to help, please visit: alumni.wustl.edu/Pages/default.aspxNOTE: Students who receive institutional or governmental need-based aid are not eligible to directly transfer their refunds to the WashU Crisis Response Fund. 

Applying Refunds to a Future Academic Term

We have also received requests for refunds to be credited to students’ accounts for the 2020 – 2021 academic year. To apply your refund to the Fall 2020 semester, please contact Student Billing at student.billing@wustl.edu no later than 8:00 AM, Wednesday, April 8, 2020. 

Contact Information 

For questions about housing refunds, contact Residential Life at reslife@wustl.edu

For questions about dining balances, contact Dining Services at diningservices@wustl.edu

For questions about parking, contact Parking & Transportation at parktrans@wustl.edu

For questions about work study, contact Student Financial Services at financial@wustl.edu

For questions about health insurance, contact Student Support & Wellness at studentinsurance@wustl.edu

Additional information regarding the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, reimbursement of charges, and online instruction, can be found at: emergency.wustl.edu/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/covid-19-faqs/. 

Stay safe and be well, 

Amy B. Kweskin, Vice Chancellor for Finance & Chief Financial Officer 

Robert M. Wild, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Transition and Engagement & Dean of Students