Refunds/Reduced Dues: COVID-19

Zeta Tau Alpha has received many questions about collegiate chapter finances and members’ obligations as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. National Council sent an email regarding reduced dues and refunds to all collegiate chapter Presidents, Treasurers, Financial Advisors and General Advisors on Monday, March 16, and a follow up email to all collegiate members and parents on March 23.

The email to collegiate members said:

Since we first communicated with you about COVID-19 in early March, so much has changed for all of you at 173 different universities and colleges across the country. You all are experiencing the challenges that come with remote learning and missing the daily connection with your sisters. Meanwhile, decisions about when or if you will return to in-person classes vary across the country and change almost daily.

Many of your campuses have already decided to remain remote for the rest of the 2019-2020 academic year, and some have canceled graduation. We hurt for those of you who are seniors and will not experience those important and special final weeks of college in the traditional sense.

Every campus has also made its own decisions about student housing. We have monitored each of them and followed the school’s lead in deciding whether your ZTA housing facility should remain open. In situations where students are permitted to remain on campus, our facility remains open for members with extenuating circumstances. Out of an abundance of care, and in following CDC guidelines, facility access is limited to only those members with housing contracts; no guests are allowed.

Financial Obligations to ZTA

We know many of you have questions about your financial obligations to ZTA.

Starting this week (March 23, 2020), our finance team at International Office will work with your chapter President, Treasurer and Province President/Mentor/Director of New Chapters to begin the process of determining how to prorate fees and/or refund members.

We have waited to make these chapter-level decisions until campuses have determined whether to suspend all on-campus learning and activities for the rest of the year in order to prevent confusion and to avoid the recalculation of amounts and reissued billings from ZTA. We expect to make those decisions over the next couple weeks, and we ask for your patience as our staff members and volunteers determine a fair and equitable plan for each unique member and/or chapter situation.

In the meantime, we do expect you to remain current in your payments. However, we have asked Billhighway to suspend late fees for March and April. We will work with any member experiencing financial hardship so they have the opportunity to remain in good standing. Those members should work directly with their chapter Treasurer.

Please contact us at zetataualpha@zetataualpha.org or (317) 872-0540 if you have any questions. Our staff is working remotely from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday.

General COVID-19 Info

It’s more important than ever to practice social distancing. While we wish we could spend time in our sisters’ company during uncertain days like these, we are also called to live by our values and to care for those “within and without our circle.” Please, stay home, stay healthy and stay informed!

Please refer to all local and national guidelines as well as the Centers for Disease Control for the most up-to-date information for your area.

Thank you for your understanding and for helping flatten the curve. We are proud of how you have stayed connected and supportive of each other during this difficult time. Our sisterhood will be stronger because we have faced this struggle together.