Mother says school’s automated system blocked family from payment plan
Howard University has unenrolled 502 incoming first-year students, removing their spots for the upcoming fall semester that begins Aug. 17 at the prestigious, historically Black institution in Washington, D.C.
The students learned this week that they no longer have places in the incoming class. Many have taken to social media — some in tears — to share their stories, and some posts have gone viral.
Among those affected is A’Zariah Miles, 17, of Knoxville, Tennessee. Her dream of attending Howard was weeks from being realized.
After Miles learned she had been unenrolled, her mother, Kendra Miles, said the school’s automated system would not allow the family to enroll in a payment plan because the amount that was owed made them ineligible to sign up.
“I’ve reached out since we got the email (Wednesday). I’ve emailed, literally, everybody,” Kendra Miles said. “I emailed her adviser. He responded and said it wasn’t a mistake and there was nothing they could do.”
The unenrollment leaves affected families with weeks to arrange alternatives before the fall semester begins.