Long before recruiting and enrolling foreign students emerged in the last decade as a significant tool for helping close strained budgets at institutions of higher education in the United States, Alabama State University (ASU) was among dozens who had built a noted history of welcoming foreign students to its campus.
ASU recruited prospects with sales pitches about its teaching staff, educational and athletic opportunities and proud legacy since its founding just after the Civil War.
Historical high points aside, the institution was recently beginning to show signs of recovering from its drama-filled chapter of leadership turmoil at the top. Then, since this past spring, another potentially embarrassing situation is raising eyebrows and turning heads.
A group of ASU students from Nigeria are suing the university over how it used funds their government paid the institution for their educational opportunity.
The federal lawsuit contends the university overpriced many of its services — from classes to housing and food — and did not refund the Nigerian government the money ASU should have had left over had the charges been reasonable nor has it credited the country for the disputed amounts the litigants contend should go toward the costs of future enrollees from Nigeria.
Alabama State does not comment on legal matters involving it that are pending before a court, ASU spokesman Kenneth Mullinax said when asked recently for the institution’s take on the surprising charge against it.
