$6.5 million RPI tuition refund settlement finalized

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The class action lawsuit filed by a group of students against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute regarding tuition payments during the COVID-19 pandemic has been finalized, according to the U.S. District Court Northern District of New York. The $6.5 million settlement was first announced back in August.

The lawsuit, which was originally introduced in April of 2020, alleged that RPI committed a breach of contract upon pivoting to remote learning during the pandemic. The filing declared that the switch to virtual instruction denied students access to in-person benefits, including classroom learning, housing, activities and meals.

RPI released a statement on the finalizing of the settlement, saying "When universities in New York were required to suspend in-person classes due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute shifted to remote learning to prioritize both the health of our community and our students’ academic progress. We are extremely proud of the work our faculty and staff undertook to see us through a deadly pandemic that profoundly disrupted all our lives. The settlement avoids a lengthy legal process, allowing us to keep our focus on providing world-class education to our students."

As part of the agreement, any current or former students who were enrolled at the RPI campus as of March 10, 2020 during the spring or summer semesters are entitled to an equal share of the settlement funds. Settlement awards are set to be distributed on April 8.