Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

I wanted to bring you a critical update that will certainly have an impact on the majority of our students and their families.

Earlier today, during a special meeting of the UNC Board of Governors, Interim UNC System President Bill Roper announced that the UNC System is committed to pro-rated reimbursements of housing and dining funds that have been unused as a result of the University System’s rapid response to COVID-19. The chief financial officers at each institution are working with the UNC System Office to ensure uniformity of processes and calculations for determining refund amounts. Dr. Roper commented: “It is our commitment to all UNC System students to get this done as quickly as possible. It is our obligation to North Carolina taxpayers to get this done right. We hope to be able to announce specifics for processing and issuing refunds in the upcoming weeks.”

We agree with UNC System leadership regarding the need to expedite applicable refunds, and, upon further guidance from the UNC System, we will do our best to get them processed as quickly and as efficiently as possible. We do not have any further information at this time, including the date as of which refunds would be applied, but we will continue to work hard, as a campus leadership team and in collaboration with the UNC System, to bring our students and their families an update soon.

I have appreciated your patience as we awaited more information on this important topic. I am very much aware of the hardship these circumstances have created for so many of you. Had I been in the same situation during my college education, I don’t know what I would have done. It is my hope that the above update will bring you some relief, even as we continue to work out the nuts and bolts of refunds.

I know many of you are also very eager to receive an update on the possible pass/fail designation option that is to be decided upon this week. Please monitor your inbox for the very latest information.

I hope this email finds you safe and healthy, and I continue to applaud your efforts to adapt to the strange situation we find ourselves in at this time. Our Seahawk spirit continues to shine through, and I am eager to be able to thank all of you for that in person when we are again able to gather as a UNCW family.

Sincerely,

Jose V. Sartarelli