Policy on Federal Aid Restrictions for Students Convicted of a Drug Violation

If a student is convicted of a federal or state drug offense that occurred while receiving federal aid, he/she will become ineligible for such aid for the length of time indicated in the chart below.  A conviction that is reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record does not count, nor does one received when the student was a juvenile, unless he/she was tried as an adult.  If a student is convicted of both possessing and selling illegal drugs, and the periods of ineligibility are different, the student will be ineligible for the longer period.

 

Possession of illegal drugs

Sale of illegal drugs

First Offense

1 year from date of conviction

2 years of date of conviction

Second Offense

2 years from date of conviction

Indefinite period

Third + Offense

Indefinite period

  

A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends, or when he/she successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program, as described below.    Students denied eligibility for an indefinite period can regain eligibility only after successfully completing a rehabilitation program or if the conviction is reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record so that fewer than two convictions for sale or three convictions for possession remain on the record.  It is the student’s responsibility to certify that he/she has successfully completed the rehabilitation program. 

Standards for a qualified drug rehabilitation program

A qualified drug rehabilitation program must include at least two unannounced drug tests and must satisfy at least one of the following requirements: 

  • Be qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly from a federal, state or local government program
  • Be qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a federally or state-licensed insurance company
  • Be administered or recognized by a federal, state or local government agency or court
  • Be administered or recognized by a federally or state-licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor