2008 Woodie Awards
RSSDrug charges can lead to loss of financial aid
By Dana Anderson
Issue date: 11/2/07 Section: News
College students may face more than jail time and fines if arrested for a crime involving marijuana. Convicted students may be stripped of their financial aid eligibility as well.
The Aid Elimination Provision restricts a student's financial aid for a period of time based on the student's record of offense.
Since the law's enactment in 2000, nearly 200,000 students have been denied financial aid, according to a press release from the Students for Sensible Drug Policy organization.
The AEP suspends financial aid of first-time drug offenders for one year. Second-time offenders are ineligible for two years, and multiple-repeat offenders are barred indefinitely. This includes the loss of grants, loans and work study opportunities. Students may regain eligibility before the end of their suspension if they participate in a drug rehabilitation program and pass two random drug tests.
Chief of Police Edward Shupp said Lehigh generally arrests about 10 to 15 people with marijuana-related offenses per year, but the number varies each year.
"The law is in place, and if you get charged, you can lose your financial aid," Shupp said. "That's something students should know before they start partaking in illegal activities."
The law is stated in the student handbook to inform students of the penalties of smoking, he said.
Director of Financial Aid Linda Bell said Lehigh has yet to have a case in which a student has lost financial aid eligibility due to a marijuana-related conviction. The law also does not seem to affect students' behavior, she said.
"The law has been in effect, but I don't think we've seen any change in anyone's habits, quite frankly," Bell said.
The financial aid department relies on a student's answers to questions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid in order to make a decision about eligibility. A question on the form is: "Have you been convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid?"
The Aid Elimination Provision restricts a student's financial aid for a period of time based on the student's record of offense.
Since the law's enactment in 2000, nearly 200,000 students have been denied financial aid, according to a press release from the Students for Sensible Drug Policy organization.
The AEP suspends financial aid of first-time drug offenders for one year. Second-time offenders are ineligible for two years, and multiple-repeat offenders are barred indefinitely. This includes the loss of grants, loans and work study opportunities. Students may regain eligibility before the end of their suspension if they participate in a drug rehabilitation program and pass two random drug tests.
Chief of Police Edward Shupp said Lehigh generally arrests about 10 to 15 people with marijuana-related offenses per year, but the number varies each year.
"The law is in place, and if you get charged, you can lose your financial aid," Shupp said. "That's something students should know before they start partaking in illegal activities."
The law is stated in the student handbook to inform students of the penalties of smoking, he said.
Director of Financial Aid Linda Bell said Lehigh has yet to have a case in which a student has lost financial aid eligibility due to a marijuana-related conviction. The law also does not seem to affect students' behavior, she said.
"The law has been in effect, but I don't think we've seen any change in anyone's habits, quite frankly," Bell said.
The financial aid department relies on a student's answers to questions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid in order to make a decision about eligibility. A question on the form is: "Have you been convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid?"
