Refunds for Students

Posted on March 19, 2020

Dear Students,

As you adjust to several changes at Fresno State, as well as likely at home and perhaps at work, I want to assure you that our University is doing everything possible to minimize some of the financial impacts you may be feeling as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

PARKING FEE (deadline extended to March 25)

(An earlier version of the amount below was incorrect. The information has been updated.)

In accordance with campus policy, you are able to be refunded a portion (50% of $93/semester fee = $46.50) of your Spring 2020 student parking permit fees. Motorcycle permits will also be refunded at 50% of the $17 semester fee.

To request a parking refund, please email transportation@csufresno.edu and include your first and last name, student ID number, and parking permit number for spring, annual or motorcycle permit by 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 25, 2020 to qualify for a refund.

Please note, when we receive your email, your permit will be deactivated immediately. To avoid citations in the future, please do not use your permit after requesting a refund.

Parking permit fee refunds will be processed through your student account. Before you request a parking refund at the email address listed above, please make sure you are signed up for electronic refunds on accounting services website. (We do not want a paper check to get lost in the mail.) Please allow approximately four to six weeks to process.

If you have an outstanding balance due on your student account, the parking refund will apply to those charges first. We are waiving the refund processing fee in light of this situation.

GRADUATION FEE

Please note the undergraduate graduation fee covers both the administrative costs of graduation evaluation as well as commencement ceremonies. Given that the main college commencement ceremonies have been cancelled, the University will refund the commencement portion of the $51.50 fee, which is $34.50, for any undergraduate student who had applied to graduate in spring 2020. We are waiving the refund processing fee due in light of this situation.

Graduation fee refunds will be processed through your student account as well. Please refer to above directions listed under parking fee refunds, to ensure you are signed up for electronic refunds.

We will continue to explore how and when to celebrate Commencement 2020, depending on the quickly changing situation.

(Please note that if you registered and made payment for affinity ceremonies, such as the Chicano Latino Graduation Ceremony, you will need to contact the office or person with whom you registered.)

GRAD BOXES

(An earlier version of the information below was incorrect. It has been been updated.)

For more information regarding Grad Boxes, please visit grad fest webpage.

STUDENT HOUSING

Student residents (i.e. those who live on campus) are strongly encouraged to return home as soon as possible, and housing staff will facilitate the quick and orderly departure of students from campus housing. As communicated previously, students who leave will receive a pro-rated refund for housing and meal plans. Students who do not have another primary home may remain in Student Housing while adhering to social distancing requirements. Please reach out to the Student Housing Office with questions: housing@csufresno.edu.

I also want to briefly address the topic of tuition refunds since a few students have asked. Because California State University students (including you) will continue receiving instruction from CSU instructors, and the grades you will receive will ultimately lead to a CSU diploma, we will continue to charge tuition and mandatory system and campus-based fees for all enrolled students. In light of the transition to virtual instruction beginning tomorrow (March 20), it is important to clarify that tuition is the same for both traditional online and in-person CSU courses during the regular school year, and that the online classes provide the same material, ample opportunities for interaction with faculty and the same diploma credits as more traditional classes do, even if the delivery methods are very different.

Lastly, keep in mind that some refunds may impact your Financial Aid award, and we will share the individual impacts to students as we receive guidance from the U.S. Department of Education.

Please continue to visit our coronavirus website and read campus emails regularly for additional updates and information.

While we are faced with extraordinary times, we are facing them together. Be well, Bulldogs. Take care of yourselves and each other.

Kind Regards,

Carolyn Coon, Ph.D.
Acting Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Dean of Students

Debbie Astone,
Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer