Pubdate: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 Source: City Paper, The (TN) Copyright: 2006, The City Paper,LLC Contact: http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3080 Author: Vandana Atreya Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) STUDENT AID RETURNS FOR DRUG OFFENDERS Hundreds of Tennessee students can hope to get a second shot at gaining eligibility for federal financial aid thanks to a bill that passed the U.S. Congress last week. The bill scales back a law that stripped financial aid from college students with drug convictions. The drug provision was originally enacted in 1988. College students had to declare prior drug convictions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). An answer of "yes" to the drug conviction question basically rendered the student ineligible to receive financial aid, regardless of whether the conviction was prior to the person's entering college. Now most students with past drug offenses can receive federal or state financial aid as long as the drug conviction did not happen while the student was enrolled in college and receiving financial aid. Administrators at local public and private universities and colleges agree the new bill makes good sense. Nashville State Community College (NSCC) has several students who will benefit from the law, according to Financial Aid Director Steven White. While NSCC doesn't have the time or resources to find out the exact number of students who will benefit from the change, White thinks it is a wise move to make the penalty limited to students who are currently enrolled in school. "This current change is a healthy compromise. No taxpayer would look kindly upon federal or state funds being misused by students," he said. What White did disagree with was isolating drug convictions as the only question on the FAFSA form. "Drug conviction is the only felony that is listed on the form. It is unfair to isolate drug convictions if convictions such as rape and assault are not getting the same attention. I do think that is a bit overwhelming," he said. The change is welcome news at Vanderbilt University even though there have been no instances of students with prior drug convictions trying to apply for financial assistance, according to Brent Tener, associate director of financial aid. "This has been a large political football ever since it passed a while ago. The original intent of the law was good but it got farther and farther away from what it was originally meant to do. The change makes sense as it relates to universities and colleges," he said. While the policy change is good news for students and financial aid administrators, it has action groups such as the Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) calling for a time-out. Applicants are required to answer a "yes" or "no" to "Have you ever been convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs?" on the FAFSA. Tom Angell, campaigns director for SSDP, feels the question is "irrelevant to aid eligibility." The SSDP wants the drug question totally eliminated from the form. The mere presence of the question deters eligible students from applying for aid, according to Angell. The 2006-2007 federal form does advise applicants to submit the form even if they answered yes to the drug conviction question. "…You may be eligible for non-federal student aid from state or private sources," it says. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman