EMPTY CLASSROOMS, student unions and parking lots signify the drastic change to which many collegiate institutions have had to adapt. For many private and community colleges across the nation, the COVID-19 pandemic has also evoked financial concerns.

For Marietta College, a private liberal arts school in Marietta, Ohio, the cost of reimbursing students for room and board this semester has already taken its toll. Tom Perry, vice president for communication and brand management, said the college plans to mail refund checks to students the week of May 4.

“We are planning to provide a pro-rated refund for room and board,” Perry said in an email.

The total cost impact for Marietta College is expected to reach about $1 million, he said. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Perry said the school’s officials have been discussing “ways we can save money now that will help minimize the impact.”

The school had announced last year that tuition would increase 2 percent from this school year to next school year, Perry said, but that wasn’t because of the pandemic.

“We will not be increasing tuition because of the current pandemic or to cover any financial losses,” he said.

Perry said that college officials aren’t too concerned about fall enrollment numbers potentially dropping because the current students are still receiving a “first-rate virtual education” from the faculty and staff.

“Everyone wishes that we were not going through this, but everyone has learned some amazing lessons that will make us stronger in the future,” Perry said. “Therefore, we expect to have strong retention numbers with our current students and we are still faring well in regards to attracting new students.”

The college offered some virtual orientation programs that have received positive feedback, Perry said, with plans to have orientation programming over the summer. Officials also plan for students to move in on time this fall, with the understanding that some adjustments might need to be made.

The school also is accepting screenshots of high school transcripts and ACT and SAT test scores, so students can complete their applications, Perry said.

“We understand that families are going through different scenarios that they couldn’t have imagined two months ago,” Perry said.

What could happen by the fall is a huge unknown for community colleges, too, according to Don MacMaster, president of Alpena Community College in Alpena, Michigan.

“No one really knows what the fall holds,” he said. “There’s a lot of concern about that.”

He said that fall enrollment could go two ways. Historically, there have been times of economic distress when enrollment at community colleges has increased. On the flip side, if folks are unemployed or even sick, attending college might not be “on their list of priorities come August,” MacMaster said.

Waynesburg University, a small Christian college in Greene County, Pennsylvania, plans to make adjustments for students who paid for housing this semester. Stacey Brodak, vice president for institutional advancement and university relations, said that “in most cases,” a refund would be credited to the students’ future accounts.

“We will be in a better position to determine the financial impact after additional guidance from the Department of Education is received,” Brodak said in an email. “We anticipate such guidance to be issued soon. At that time, we will also be able to apply credits and refunds to all affected students, including seniors.”

As far as fall enrollment goes, Waynesburg officials do not suspect the pandemic will influence the size of the incoming class, due to dedicated work of admissions counselors and implemented virtual visits, Brodak said.

Not all schools are anticipating a financial impact, either. Thanks to support from alumni and other private donors, Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania, is in a “sound financial position,” according to Erin Jones, associate director of public relations.

“This is not an easy time for anyone,” Jones said. “It’s not an easy time for institutions, and it’s not an easy time for students. We understand how fortunate we are to have such generous supporters.”

W&J is offering pro-rated refunds to students for room and board, based on how long they were on campus, Jones said. They have not yet calculated a total cost amount for those refunds.

Locally, Ohio University Eastern is offering microgrants to students experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic. It has transitioned to online instruction, and alternate grading plans are in place. No housing refunds have been required from that campus, since it is a commuter-only school.

Belmont College has taken similar steps, closing its buildings and continuing most classes in an online format.