Fayetteville State University dissolves $1.6 million in student debt

Fayetteville State University cleared $1.6 million in tuition debt for nearly 1,500 students with funds from the American Rescue Plan.

The announcement was made to FSU students July 2.

“Student success is one of my priorities,” FSU Chancellor Darrell Allison said. “On this Independence Day weekend, it gives me no greater joy than to know we have been able to assist in our students’ financial independence by completely wiping the slate clean of their university debt.” 

The American Rescue Plan, signed into law March 11, provided $39.6 billion to higher education institutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tuition that was not covered by federal student grants or loans was cleared by FSU. As part of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III, all students who attended FSU from fall 2019 to spring 2021, now have a tuition balance of zero.

In addition, FSU plans to use $4.7 million of the emergency relief fund toward providing free summer classes to 1,400 undergraduate students. Free summer school tuition will continue until the summer of 2023, said Joy Cook, an FSU spokeswoman.

“The university is focused on students' success by clearing past due balances and erasing debt,” Cook said. “When the burden of financial stress is taken away, student success increases.”

FSU received hundreds of positive comments on social media, she said.

Zametria Wall was one of the many students who expressed their gratitude to the university.

Wall is scheduled to graduate in the fall with two master’s degrees and a graduate certificate. In 2014, she also earned her bachelor’s degree from FSU. Owing nearly $10,000 in tuition, Wall said she was humbled by the university’s decision.

As a mother of two, a full-time graduate student and a full-time employee, she said balancing family, college and work could be overwhelming at times.

“It’s been a long hard road, but a lot of the professors and advisers — just everyone really — at Fayetteville State is always so helpful and understanding,” Wall said.

Students are at the center of every conversation, she said.

“I find myself being an ambassador for the university everywhere I go,” Wall said.

FSU’s decision to clear students' tuition debt is going to persist for years to come for those students who are graduating, she said.

“It just speaks volumes about the university, about their priorities and their perspective,” Wall said. “I feel like they just really embodied what people (students) needed.”

Health and education writer Ariana-Jasmine Castrellon can be reached at acastrellon@gannett.com or 910-486-3561.

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