Fork Union Military Academy this week announced that it is giving families enrolling for the 2020-2021 academic year certain unprecedented, one-time benefits. A family's registration fees will be completely refundable and the enrollment agreement cancelable in the event they do not enroll, for any reason, this fall so long as the Academy is notified by the stated time. In past years, the required registration fee has been non-refundable and the contract non-cancelable, but due to the uncertainties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the school has added special provisions to its enrollment agreement to allow for the refund of registration fees and contract cancelation up to August 1, 2020.
"We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has created a lot of uncertainty for our families," said Colonel David L. Coggins, the school's President. "We want to reassure our families that we will work with them through this time, and protecting their financial investment by allowing the refund of their registration fees up to August 1st just seems like the right thing for us to do."
In an additional change, the school is reducing the fall enrollment registration fee for any student who successfully completes the school's summer session.
The Academy is developing comprehensive plans for dealing with COVID-19 concerns during the return to campus. As part of those procedures, the Academy has announced that each young man will be guaranteed a single room upon request. "We recognize that the uncertainty from COVID-19 is multi-faceted. We want families to know that we are preparing to meet the challenge head-on," stressed Col. Coggins.
Special considerations are also being made for the planned in-person summer session for July 5-August 1, 2020. Registration fees are refundable, and the summer contract is cancelable up to July 1 to give families the most time possible to make a decision. Single rooms are guaranteed, and additional payment options are being made available.
"The Academy could see record summer school demand, assuming external factors permit, because of the widespread academic disruption for so many young men," suggested Fork Union's Academic Dean, COL Mike Goad. "We are doing everything we can to be there for the families that need us, whether for remedial work, to reinforce their core academic skills, or to get ahead."