Some angry graduates of the 99th graduating commencement exercises of the University of Liberia are calling on the University administration to refund what they called extra US$40.00 each collected from their graduation fees, but UL authorities remain tightlipped on the issue.
According to the 2018 graduates, they paid US$350 as graduation fees, whilst others paid US$310 during the just ended 99th commencement exercises of the state owned University.
When contacted, the office of UL Relations at the Fendall campus outside Monrovia declined to comment on the allegation on grounds that they have not been giving the authorization to speak to the issues.
They said students who paid the three hundred and fifty United States dollars should get reimbursements.
They explained that it is the responsibility of the university authorities to do refund their balance forty US dollars paid.
According to them, the University administration collected three hundred and fifty United States dollars from them as graduation fees contrary to what was approved.
One of the2018 graduates, Ms. Mae Azango, who recently shared her experience on Challenges within the Walls of Liberia’s Premier University in FrontpageAfrica newspaper, confirmed paying three hundred and fifty United States dollars as graduation fees.
She said: ‘’ Thinking that the US$350 I had paid was for me to own the gown and all others that were a part of the graduation package, I then learned that I was expected to return the gown upon graduation.
In fact, I was strongly warned that my diploma will be withheld if I fail to return the gown. This warning was sent across to everyone says Miss Azango”.
The entire process according to her was described as the biggest load of rubbish/news of the night.
Initially, the University authorities replied to the graduate’s claims by saying they made a mistake when they wrote US$350, and that every graduate was to pay only US$310, instead of US$350.
They also promised to refund US$40 that was there for a bag, which didn’t make it as a part of the full graduation package but to no avail.
Another recent UL graduate of Liberia College of the Social Sciences has also underscored the need for the University’s administration to give back their balance money, as a way of promoting transparency and accountability at the state-run university.
‘’I paid the US $350.00 as graduation fees but it was later reduced to US$310.00 with a promised that our remaining cash was going to be returned at a later date. We yet to hear from the administration as to when and how we will get our refund despite they promised to make it possible,” Miss Ida Reeves said.
This UL graduate strongly believed that the leadership of the University will certainly ignore their refund rights by making them walk back and forth for their money until they get tired and left it with the administration.
Mr. Reuben S. Waylaun, a recent graduate from the Business College confirmed that he paid US$310.00 dollars as graduation fees instead of US$350.00.
‘’As for me, I paid US$310 .00 for graduation fees including the renting of the gown.
The fees were US$350.00 but later on, there was a decision that the graduation fees should be drop to US$310.00 dollars and the decision was reached but the UL administration announced that individuals who earlier paid the US$350.00 before November 24, 2018, will get refund of forty United States dollars from the University authorities.”
Mr. Waylaun further disclosed that up to present, they (the recent graduates) have not gotten the full graduation package from the university authorities.
‘’We have received T-Shirts, Caps, Key Holders, Medals, Fan, Neck Tie, Ribs ban, and hanging ban and so far, what remaining is the book bag and ban for the car to complete the full package.”
Mr. Waylaun noted that it is fair enough for the administration to be giving items paid for by the graduates in bits and pieces.
This recent UL graduate is meanwhile calling on the authorities of the state-run University to make available the remaining items, in order to complete the graduation package.
“’Excluding the graduation fees, we also paid 25 USD for Class Project and 15 USD for class party amounting to 40USD,” Mr. Waylaun added.
The amount in question collected by their department was not mandatory for everyone to pay he said.
He said refunding the graduates who paid the three hundred and fifty US dollars should be highly considered by the administration in order to avoid future embarrassment.
Ms. Dennise Nimpson is one of the 2018 graduates of the University of Liberia. She graduated from the Mass Communications Department.
‘’I paid $310.00 for graduation fees because the Mass Communication Students Association leadership through our department appealed for it.
Up to date, I am not aware that some of my colleagues paid $350 USD and I don’t know if the UL administration has promised to refund each US$40.00 dollars,‘’she told a team of Reporters.
“If some of my colleagues paid said amount it is the responsibility of the University of Liberia administration to repay their money” she noted.
Dennise Nimpson further disclosed that,‘’ she said.
Graduate Nimpson further said “More besides, I haven’t received my full package since the graduation ceremony in December of last year.
They earlier named other items but they didn’t include them in the package. ‘’.
The Joy FM News Reporter also clarified that only bag remaining to complete the full item for the package.
According to her, the UL authorities promised to make available the graduates’ bags at the end of January 2019 but to no avail.
Mr. Sumo G. Gortor, a graduate from the UL Business College also confirmed that he paid US$310.00 dollars as graduation fees.
“The amount I paid for graduation fees covered the renting of gown he clarified. We were told that when the gown stays over one month with any of the graduates he or she will pay five United States dollars as delay fee.
Event up to present, I haven’t received my entire package and what is left now is the hanging ban for car and book bag,” Mr. Gortor explained.
University authorities promised to give the graduates the remaining items but has however failed to do so up till the present, according to him.
‘’I have no idea as to when the administration will finally give us our remaining items to complete the package.
On the other hand, I have no idea of any refund news for some of my colleagues that paid US$350.00 dollars as graduation fees.
Joseline G. Seville, Foday Kumeh and Morwu Kohlo contributed to this report. This is the first in a series of campus-based stories by students of the Mass Communication Department at the University of Liberia (UL) to be featured on this platform over the next week