Update on dining credits

March 28, 2020

Dear JHU Student,

I hope this email finds you healthy and adjusting well to your on-line classes. Thank you for your patience as we have worked out some of the details related to credits for dining costs for students on a JHU Dining Plan.

A credit is being applied to your student account for the unused portion of your spring meal plan if applicable. If you owe a balance, the credit will reduce the amount you owe, otherwise the credit will be refunded to you.

We recognize that students are facing unexpected financial hardships as a result of the pandemic, the need to return home, and the switch to distance learning.  Federal regulations would ordinarily require the University to deduct any credits from a student’s financial aid package, but the Department of Education has provided schools with the option not to do so in the case of disruptions related to COVID-19, and we have adopted this recommendation. Johns Hopkins has decided to provide full refunds for all affected students regardless of their financial aid status.

Students who are eligible for a refund have the following options:

1)    Refund – A refund will be issued to you according to the Bank Mobile preferences you selected in SIS within the next 7 -10 business days.  If you have not already set your refund preferences, please review the instructions and make your selection as soon as possible in order to expedite your refund.  If you are receiving need-based financial aid, the refund will not impact your financial aid awards.

2)    Request to have the credit remain on your account and applied toward next semester – Federal regulation does not allow us to carry over Title IV refunds.  However, if you are not a federal financial aid recipient and wish to have the credit remain on your student account and applied towards the next semester, please email homewoodstudentaccounts@jhu.edu with your request.

3)    Reduce your student loan – If you have a student or parent loan processed through the financial aid office and wish to use the credit to reduce or eliminate your spring semester loan, please email fin_aid@jhu.edu to let us know which loan and how much of the refund you want applied to the spring total.

Unless we hear from you by April 1st, we will process your refund according to option #1.

If you need additional assistance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or any other reason, the Office of Student Financial Services is here to help, and financial support is available.  All requests are assessed on a case by case basis and prioritized according to financial need. If you have financial aid questions, or need additional assistance, you can call, e-mail, or request a virtual appointment with the Office of Student Financial Services at https://finaid.jhu.edu/contact/ between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Any member of the team can help you.

For any specific dining questions, please email dining@jhu.edu.  For questions on your student account, please email homewoodstudentaccounts@jhu.edu. 

Sincerely,

Alanna W. Shanahan, EdD
Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Tom McDermott
Assistant Vice Provost for Financial Aid