Howard University president says more than 200 students readmitted after mass unenrollment

WASHINGTON (AP) — The interim president of Howard University said over 200 of the more than 500 first-year incoming students who were unenrolled for the fall semester have been readmitted to the Washington, D.C. school.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Wayne A. I. Frederick defended the way the historically Black university handled the initial unenrollment, saying many students and their families apparently misunderstood the communicated financial obligations they were expected to meet before the start of instruction in August.

“There were no issues as far as what we communicated," Frederick said, adding that the school had been clear since March about unpaid balances for tuition that were due by mid-July.

Students who were unenrolled for financial reasons had outstanding tuition balances after their financial aid and scholarships were applied, he said. Others were unenrolled because of unreported immunizations.

“I don't think it's just a simple matter of right or wrong. I think Howard adhered to its policies or procedures,” Frederick said.

As students learned last week that they no longer had spots at Howard, one of about 100 historically Black colleges and universities in the United States, dozens took to social media panicked about their next steps. Many wondered where else they would continue their education so close to the start of fall semester at most schools.

Some students and parents said they had trouble reaching officials at Howard by phone or email, leaving them unsure of how to resolve issues with tuition and housing assignments. Frederick acknowledged that the deluge of calls was overwhelming, but he added that emails were responded to.

He said the school started meeting and speaking with parents and students last week, which led to the reenrollments.

“We looked at several things," Frederick said of the process for reinstating the students, including documents for incoming financial aid.

The school received about 37,000 applications for enrollment this fall. About 2,200 incoming students remained enrolled after 502 were removed last week, Frederick said.

Keana Johnson was one of the students initially unenrolled. The 17-year-old lives in a shelter for teens and young adults in New York City. A staffer at the shelter rode with her Wednesday morning by train to Howard to ask how she could be reenrolled.

She was told after speaking in person with a Howard official that her enrollment had been reinstated.

“I feel great,” Johnson told the AP. “I do feel there was a lesson to learn from this. I shed tears over this and I was really disheartened, at first, but I felt like I couldn’t give up. Until I really got the final say-so that I really couldn’t come, I couldn’t give up trying.”

Williams is a member of AP's Race & Ethnicity team.

Howard University interim president Wayne A. I. Frederick sits for an interview, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

Howard University interim president Wayne A. I. Frederick sits for an interview, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

Howard University interim president Wayne A. I. Frederick sits for an interview, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

FILE - A sign welcomes people to the Howard University campus in Washington on July 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Howard University interim president Wayne A. I. Frederick sits for an interview, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yandy Diaz and Ryan Vilade homered in the first inning and five pitchers combined for a four-hitter as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Texas Rangers 3-0 on Wednesday night.

Ian Seymour (7-2) allowed just two hits in 4 2/3 innings of bulk relief behind opener Casey Legumina, who allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings. Garret Cleavinger pitched out of a seventh-inning jam, and Kevin Kelly struck out the side in the eighth.

Bryan Baker converted his 19th consecutive save and 29th overall with a scoreless final inning to close out the ninth shutout this season for AL East-leading Tampa Bay. It was the Rays' third shutout in four games.

Texas starter MacKenzie Gore (6-9) allowed three hits and struck out nine in seven innings, retiring 20 of the final 21 batters he faced. The Rangers held the Rays without a hit for the final 7 2/3 innings.

Tampa Bay jumped on Gore in the first inning as Diaz led off with a 372-foot, opposite-field shot to right. Jonathan Aranda followed with a double before Vilade hit a two-run homer with one out that struck the “D” Ring in left field.

Seymour allowed a one-out double in the third before retiring 10 consecutive batters.

Texas put runners on first and second with one out in the seventh after a double by Jake Burger and walk to Nicky Lopez. But Cleavinger struck out Cam Cauley before Alejandro Osuna bounced out in front of the plate to end the threat.

Rays LHP Shane McClanahan (9-6, 3.09 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale on Thursday against Rangers RHP Cole Winn (5-3, 6.11).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger catches a pop up hit by Tampa Bay Rays' Nick Fortes, not pictured, during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Texas Rangers' Jake Burger doubles during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda celebrates after his double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Casey Legumina throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz celebrates as he rounds the bases after home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)