If you are convicted of selling or possessing drugs after you submit your FAFSA, you must notify the Office of Financial Aid immediately. You will lose eligibility and must pay back all aid received following your conviction.
Any student convicted of any drug offense—not including tobacco- and alcohol-related offenses—under any federal or state law involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance while receiving Title IV financial aid will not be eligible to receive any federal grant, loan, or work-study funds during the period beginning from the date of conviction and ending after the interval time specified in the Conviction of an Offense section below.
Conviction of an Offense
Possession of Illegal Drugs
- First Offense: One year from date of conviction
- Second Offense: Two years from date of conviction
- Third and Subsequent Offenses: indefinite period
Sale of Illegal Drugs*
- First Offense: Two years from date of conviction
- Second and Subsequent Offenses: indefinite period
* A conviction for sale of drugs includes convictions for conspiring to sell drugs.
If a student is convicted of both possessing and selling illegal drugs, and the period of ineligibility are different, the student will be ineligible for the longer period. Illinois Institute of Technology provides ineligible students a written notice of ineligibility and the methods whereby they can become eligible based on conviction.
How to Regain Eligibility
A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends—i.e., for a first or second offense—or when they successfully complete a qualified drug-rehabilitation program that includes passing two unannounced drug tests given by such a program. It is the student’s responsibility to inform Illinois Tech that they have successfully completed the rehabilitation program.
For students who are found ineligible for an indefinite period of eligibility can be regained after completion of any of the three options below:
-
Successful completion of a rehabilitation program, as outlined in the Standards for a Qualified Drug Rehabilitation Program section below
-
Conviction is reversed, set aside, or removed from the student record so that fewer than two convictions for sale or three convictions for possession remain on the record
-
Successful completion of two unannounced drug tests as part of a rehabilitation program—the student does not need to complete the rest of the rehabilitation program
For these cases, the nature and dates or the remaining convictions will determine when a student regains eligibility. It is the student's responsibility to notify the Office of Financial Aid of a successful completion of a rehabilitation program.
For complete information regarding this regulation, please visit the Federal Student Handbook—Student Eligibility (1-15 and 1-16) or contact the Federal Student Aid information center.
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