HIGHER-EDUCATION PREVENTION

Drop the drug provision for financial aid in the Higher Education Act.

In November 1965, Congress instituted the Higher Education Act. The sole
purpose of this law was to strengthen the educational resources of colleges
and universities and to increase access to higher education through
financial assistance.

Seven years ago, a provision was added to the Higher Education Act that
delays or denies financial aid to anyone convicted of a state or federal
drug offense. Since taking effect in 2000, more than 160,000 students have
lost their financial aid eligibility because of the provision. This is in
addition to whatever punishment they have received from state or federal
courts. Not only does this mean that students are punished twice for their
offense but also that their misdeed remains the only class of crime that has
a ban on financial aid eligibility.

The provision allegedly keeps students off drugs through the threat of lost
financial aid; however, it is impossible to check the efficacy of this claim
because many students who are convicted of drug offenses don't bother
applying for financial aid and because many students go through college
unaware of the provision.

Invariably, the drug provision in the Higher Education Act hurts those who
it was intended to help: middle- and low-income families. These are the
people who have to worry about paying for their education but all too often
face barriers, like the drug provision, which keep higher education out of
their reach. This is to say nothing of the minorities who are vastly
overrepresented in drug convictions in the United States.

Three University students were denied financial aid in 2004-2005 because of
previous drug convictions, according to the Office of Institutional Research
and Reporting.

Only one of them ended up enrolling at the University. Because this is a
federal policy, the state and University does nothing to offset the effects
of the law. Nevertheless, students can make their voices heard on this issue
by contacting their congressional members. A new bill that would clarify the
restrictions is up for a vote in September.