Midwestern State University owed $900k by Commonwealth of Dominica

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — A Caribbean nation sponsoring students so they could attend Midwestern State University is in debt, and it has nearly cost students the chance at higher education.

Through devastation and navigating the pandemic, the Commonwealth of Dominica’s hardships fell to sponsored students attending Midwestern State, amounting to $1.4 million in tuition debt.

“We have since quit accepting new students on a payment plan from the Commonwealth of Dominica,” Midwestern State Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Dr. Keith Lamb said.

But a recent payment of $500,000 saved about 30 students.

According to a post from Dominica News Online, an agreement between the country and MSU set a monthly payment plan of $100,000 which, according to Lamb, failed around the time of the pandemic.

“Subsequent to ending the program, the government has entered a new payment contract with us, and that’s the payment contract that we fully expect to be adhered to and the debt to be retired,” Lamb said.

Lamb said before the new contract, MSU told Dominica students they would not be allowed to enroll for Spring 2024, risking their education and visa status.

“They’re all on what’s called F1 visas, and those F1 visas, if they’re not enrolled as full-time students, would have been canceled and they would have had to leave the country,” Lamb explained.

As of now, students are continuing their education. Lamb said MSU values its students as the university welcomes them from 53 other countries.

“Our students from Dominica are some really, really good students. They come well-prepared,” Lamb said. “They’re important to campus life. They hold leadership positions throughout campus. And, we’re relieved that we were able to reach a contract with the government.”

According to Lamb, Grambling State University in Louisana also has similar issues with the country. According to a post from the Dominica News Online, the country owes over $3.1 million to the university.