Pubdate: Tue, 09 Apr 2002 Source: News-Times, The (CT) Copyright: 2002 The News-Times Contact: http://www.newstimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/637 Author: Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hea.htm (Higher Education Act) YALE UNIVERSITY WON'T OBEY FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID POLICY NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) - Skirting a federal policy, Yale University will become the fourth college in the country to reimburse students who lose financial aid because of convictions for drug possession. The Ivy League college will not reimburse students convicted of other drug offenses, The Hartford Courant reported. Yale joins Western Washington University, Hampshire College and Swarthmore College as the only colleges in the country to have reimbursement policies in response to the federal "Drug-Free Student Aid" law. The law prohibits students convicted of drug offenses from receiving federal financial aid. Students lose their aid temporarily depending on the severity and number of offenses. In most cases, the students would become eligible for aid again after they have completed a drug rehabilitation program. "It comes from a desire that Yale students not have their education interrupted because they could no longer afford school," said Yale spokesman Tom Conroy. Conroy said university officers approved the change and told their students of it last week. The law has been in effect for some time, but only since President Bush has been in office has it been enforced. Student groups say that about 60,000 students have been affected by the law so far. Yale administrators say that no Yale student is in that group. Under the policy, Yale will provide university funds to make up for lost federal aid. The student still will be required to undergo drug rehabilitation. Groups that support Yale's decision call it a powerful statement that will spur momentum for their cause. "This sends a message loud and clear not just to the education community, but also to the lawmaking community," said Darrell Rogers, the national outreach coordinator for Students for Sensible Drug Policy. - --- MAP posted-by: Alex