Alcohol and college have a strong association with one another. Many young adults have the opportunity to drink alcohol for the first time when they go away to school. Some of them may eventually need to drop out because they party more than they study. In rare cases, students can end up hospitalized from drinking too much or hurt because of actions taken while under the influence.
Even if a student doesn’t allow their alcohol consumption to affect their attendance of classes or their performance in school, they could get into trouble that could affect their education. Anyone who gets behind the wheel to drive home after a party or who drives to class the morning after having too much to drink could wind up pulled over by a police officer who suspects them of driving while intoxicated(DWI).
Will a DWI charge affect your college education?
Criminal charges can affect financial aid
Maybe you receive federal student aid, or perhaps you pay for school with a combination of private scholarships and student loans. Criminal convictions will likely affect your eligibility for certain forms of financial aid.
Many scholarship programs inquire as to someone’s criminal record and will perform background checks on their top candidates. You will also have to report criminal convictions when applying for federal student aid, and a conviction that occurs while you receive aid might affect your future eligibility. DWI charges could also affect work-study arrangements, especially if you have to drive as part of the work responsibilities.
A conviction could end your enrollment
Just continuing to attend school after a drunk driving arrest can be a challenge. Depending on what institution of higher education you attend, pleading guilty or getting convicted of a criminal offense could be enough to end your time there.
Most schools have policies regulating student behavior, and if your behavior falls short of what the school expects from you, then you may face disciplinary proceedings that could result in your expulsion from the school without a degree.
Despite how people think of DWI charges, there are often defense strategies that could work for defendants accused of impaired driving. Understanding the possible consequences of a conviction can help those who need to fight back against allegations of drunk driving.
