AKRON, Ohio - University of Akron students who drop a class more than two weeks into a semester will no longer get a partial refund, following changes in policies for tuition, housing and dining.

The university, like Cleveland State University and Kent State University, had offered a 100-percent tuition refund the first week, then reduced the amount during subsequent weeks.

UA refunded 70 percent the second week, 50 percent the third week, 30 percent the fourth week, 20 percent the fifth week, then nothing. Under the new policy, students will receive an 100-percent refund for the first two weeks of the 15-week semester then nothing.

"The proposed simplified refund schedule would replace a more complicated schedule that had offered graduated refund rates throughout the first one-third of an academic class," said information presented to university trustees, who approved the measure in April. "Revisions would provide students with an extra week during a standard academic term to withdraw from a course and receive a full refund, while removing the extended time for reduced refunds."

In fall 2016 the university refunded about $2.8 million in tuition, vice president for finance and administration Nathan Mortimer said in a statement. Approximately $2.5 million was for scheduling changes within the first 14 days and approximately $300,000 after that time.

"The policy change was instituted to give our students a little more time to evaluate their course decisions while encouraging them to stick with their decisions once two weeks of the semester lapse," Mortimer said.

What are refund policies at other schools?

Kent State refunds 100 percent the first week, 80 percent the second week, 65 percent the third week, 60 percent the fourth week, then nothing.

There are various reasons students drop a class and if they attend only a short period of time they should receive a refund, said Kent State bursar Stina Olafsdottir.

"It is kind of a nice way to at least give you something back," she said.

CSU refunds 100 percent the first week, 75 percent the second week, 50 percent the third week, 25 percent the fourth week then nothing.

The refund schedule provides consistency to the university's academic add/drop practices while promoting successful student behavior, said Veronica Herschbach, director of treasury services at CSU.

"We have determined that it is in the best interests of our students and CSU to max the reimbursement at 4 weeks," she said in an email. "This is a general best practice among public universities and incentivizes students to make decisions quickly to ensure they get the most out of an academic course."

Bowling Green State University also ofers a graduated refund through four weeks. Ohio State offers 100 percent the first week, 75 percent the second week, 50 percent the third week then nothing.

Ohio University offers 80 percent the first two weeks, then nothing. Miami University offers 100 percent for the first five days, then nothing. Youngstown State University offers 100 percent for the first two weeks, then nothing.

What are Akron's new housing and dining policies?

The University of Akron also tightened its refunds for housing and meals.

Students who withdraw will receive a partial housing refund based on the number of occupancy days from the first day of the term through the 28th day, after which students will be ineligible for a refund.

Students will receive dining refunds from the first day of class through the 28th day. Students will be refunded the cost of the meal plan less any used to date.