Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Violations
Students completing the
FAFSA will be required to answer the question “Have you been convicted for the possession
or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal
student aid?” Students who answer “Yes,” will be required to answer several
other questions to ascertain whether or not the student will be eligible for
funds. Students who do not respond to the question on the FAFSA cannot receive
federal student aid until they correct their FAFSA (in order to answer the
question).
If a student has been convicted of possession or sale of illegal drugs during a period in which (s)he is using federal Title IV funds, the period of ineligibility is a follows:
If a student has been convicted of possession or sale of illegal drugs during a period in which (s)he is using federal Title IV funds, the period of ineligibility is a follows:
If the student was convicted for both possession and sale of illegal drugs and the duration of ineligibility differs between the two offenses, the student will be unable to receive federal financial aid funds for the longer period.
Convictions only affect federal student aid if the offense occurred during a period in which the student was using federal Title IV funds. Convictions that have been reversed, removed, or was tried when the student was a juvenile (unless the student was tried as an adult) are not considered grounds for federal financial aid ineligibility.
Regaining Eligibility
A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility (defined above) ends or when (s)he successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program that includes two unannounced drug tests provided by the rehabilitation program. Further drug convictions will reinstate the student’s ineligibility.
Standards for Qualified Drug-Rehabilitation Program
A qualified drug rehabilitation program must include at least 2 (two) unannounced drug tests and satisfy at least one of the following requirements:
– The program must be qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly from a federal, state, or local government program (or)
– The program must be qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a federally or state-licensed insurance company (or)
– Be administered or recognized by a federal, state, or local government agency or court (or)
– Be administered or recognized by a federally or state-licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor
Convictions only affect federal student aid if the offense occurred during a period in which the student was using federal Title IV funds. Convictions that have been reversed, removed, or was tried when the student was a juvenile (unless the student was tried as an adult) are not considered grounds for federal financial aid ineligibility.
Regaining Eligibility
A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility (defined above) ends or when (s)he successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program that includes two unannounced drug tests provided by the rehabilitation program. Further drug convictions will reinstate the student’s ineligibility.
Standards for Qualified Drug-Rehabilitation Program
A qualified drug rehabilitation program must include at least 2 (two) unannounced drug tests and satisfy at least one of the following requirements:
– The program must be qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly from a federal, state, or local government program (or)
– The program must be qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a federally or state-licensed insurance company (or)
– Be administered or recognized by a federal, state, or local government agency or court (or)
– Be administered or recognized by a federally or state-licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor
