West Virginia University is suspending its student Reserve Convenience program through WVU Bookstores for the fall semester, University officials announced Thursday (July 26).
The decision follows a circuit court ruling Monday (July 23) that granted a temporary injunction against the University until a lawsuit over the program is resolved.
Weve decided to temporarily suspend the Reserve Convenience program for the fall, and will be notifying eligible students of our decision,said Dan Durbin, associate vice president of finance at WVU .We already have had several students contact us to ask when they can access their reserve account, and dont feel its fair to them to prolong the matter with classes starting soon. We sincerely regret any inconvenience this may cause students and their families.
The program, which began in the spring of 2006, was established as a convenience for WVU students receiving financial aid, Durbin said.
After tuition, fees, room and board and other expenses are deducted from a students financial aid account, the program reserves up to $500 of the remaining balance for the purchase of books and supplies at WVU Bookstores. The program allows students to buy books by simply presenting their Mountaineer ID card.
Students are not required to participate in the program, and could opt-out. Those choosing to opt-out, who dont use the account, or have a balance, are mailed refund checks within two weeks of the first day of classes.
In spring 2007, approximately 8,800 students qualified for participation in the Reserve Convenience program. Three-thousand students took advantage of the program while the remaining students either opted out or chose not to participate.
It should be noted that the judges decision is temporary,Durbin said.We still expect to prevail on the merits of the case when its heard later this fall. Its our hope that we can continue to provide the convenience benefit of this program to our students and their families, and the scholarships that are funded through purchases made at the WVU Bookstores.