Virus means graduation disruptions, possible refunds to students moving off UNC system campuses

"There will not be a single way of doing graduation for the entire system," Roper said during a morning UNC Board of Governors meeting.

UNC-Chapel Hill announced soon after that it will postpone its graduation ceremonies.

"We have had to confront the impact of this new reality on our spring commencement exercises," Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said in a statement. "I am committed to celebrating the accomplishments of our many talented students. In the coming days, I will send a survey to all members of the Class of 2020 to ask their opinions about alternative dates and other options."

The UNC system is also sorting out what to do on potential reimbursements of room and board charges, as well as student fees. Roper said university leaders "expect to be in a position to start answering those questions next week."

"Everyone is freaking out, so confused," said Jake Cramutola, a sophomore at North Carolina State University. "If people live in the apartments, they are staying there, but I know others who live out of state, so they all had to go home and pack their stuff in a couple days and leave."

Cramutola and other N.C. State students said they haven't been told if they'll be refunded for their room and board.

"I haven't heard of anything," freshman Lauren Pollock said. "It makes me feel frustrated. That's our money."

Pollock said her friend spent $66 she still had on her meal plan to buy snacks to ensure the account was emptied.

Officials said the UNC system could lose more than $430 million in refunds, with the system's biggest campuses accounting for the bulk of that total:

"Colleges are so up in the air right now, and they're so unsure that they're not giving us concrete answers, and that's what we're looking for," Pollock said.

"It's a big transition for everyone," Cramutola said.

As for graduations, Roper said some may be virtual, while others may be postponed or canceled. He said his office will work with chancellors as they make their own plans.

The changes will affect ceremonies, not degrees, Roper said, though some grading scales may move to a simple pass/fail designation.

"This should not interfere in any way with the actual awarding of degrees," he said.

There was some pushback to the announcement. Members of the Board of Governors, which makes policy decisions for the state's 16 public universities, heard Roper's announcement for the first time during Friday's meeting, and member Bob Rucho said it was too soon to cancel.

Rucho, a dentist and former state senator from the Charlotte area, wanted to wait until closer to graduation season.

Roper, a medical doctor and former head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said CDC guidance against large gatherings already extends into commencement season.

"My comments are simply facing the facts of the situation we're in," he said.

The university system is also looking at its financial picture, and more instructions will likely go out to campuses next week, Roper said. Leaders are also developing a legislative ask for when the General Assembly goes into session to deal with a number of virus-related issues.

"We are not out of cash, but we are carefully looking at this," Roper said.

Whether students will get refunds, with campuses largely shut down and moving to online classes, remains to be seen. UNC system attorney Tom Shanahan said his office is reviewing student housing contract language, among other things. Roper said he's told chancellors to be compassionate as they make decisions.

"We don't have an answer today," Roper said, "other than it's surely understandable that the people want their money refunded."

Board member Marty Kotis noted that students have rights under the state's landlord and tenant laws and that many students will need money, including up-front deposits, to find new places to live.

Roper also said Friday the outbreak will delay the ongoing search for a new chancellor at East Carolina University. He said he hopes to have a new leader in place there by the fall.