Federal Student Financial Aid Penalties For Drug Law Violations
Federal law provides that a student who has been convicted of an offense under any federal or state law involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving financial aid shall not be eligible to receive any federal or institutional grant, loan, or work assistance during the period beginning on the date of such conviction and ending after the interval specified in the following tables. If convicted or an offense involving:
| Possession of Controlled Substance | Ineligibility Period |
|---|---|
| First Offense | 1 year |
| Second Offense | 2 years |
| Third Offense | Indefinite |
| Sale of Controlled Substance | Ineligibility Period |
|---|---|
| First Offense | 2 years |
| Second Offense | Indefinite |
A student whose eligibility has been suspended based on a conviction for possession or sale of a conrolled substance may resume eligibility before the end of the ineligibility period if:
- The student satisfactorily completes a drug rehabilitation program that:
- Complies with the criteria prescribed in the federal regulations; and
- Includes two unannounced drug tests;
- The student successfully passes two unannounced drug tests conducted by a drug rehabilitation program that complies with the criteria prescribed in the federal regulations; or
- The conviction is reversed, set aside, or otherwise rendered nugatory.