Howard University’s new academic year is opening under the shadow of a mass unenrollment dispute after the school said more than 500 incoming first-year students were dropped for missing a July tuition payment deadline, with about 200 later restored. The episode has left some students fearful their status could change again and prompted broader debate over whether the university mishandled communication around balances, financial aid and payment requirements. Interim President Wayne A. I. Frederick told The Associated Press last month that Howard was enforcing its policy and said 2,200 students did meet the payment terms, including a July 10 deadline for half of an unpaid balance after financial aid was factored in. Some families and students dispute that account, saying they followed the rules or were given incorrect information, while attorney and Howard alumna Ashley Christopher said the school shared "bad information" and should acknowledge joint responsibility. The controversy has stirred concern about the standing of one of the country’s best-known HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities), even as supporters argue the school’s long-term reputation and the value of a Howard degree remain intact. Howard, which is nearly 160 years old, is consistently ranked among the most prestigious private HBCUs and was identified by Forbes as the top-ranked HBCU.