Since we have moved our classes to online instruction, I believe it is only fair to partially reimburse students enrolled in Spring 2020 classes. Online classes are completely different than in person classes. For starters, you are no longer getting one on one opportunities to speak with your professor or have open discussion in person to promote further learning of material. Second, we are now paying to teach ourselves the material, something that typically costs less when you enroll in an online program to begin with in some cases.

Montclair State has shown to have three positive coronavirus cases, which means it’s not safe to go back to campus even if we were allowed to. When we pay tuition we are paying to use the resources on campus. Gym, library, media rooms, etc. Now that we are online, none of those resources are being used. So what are we being billed for?

During these hard times, money is tight and continuing an education is important. Let’s be fair in stating that the instruction we are getting online is not comparable to what we would be given in person. If these classes were able to be completed online through a synchronous and asynchronous meetings then I believe they would’ve been offered in the first place through an online setting. However, most classes can only be achieved through an in classroom setting. Please, sign this petition. Spread the word!