Policies

Admission of Persons with Prior Felony Convictions

Policy Purpose

This policy serves to formally adopt State University of New York policy 3200, “Admission of Persons with Prior Felony Convictions.” This policy also outlines campus procedures for inquiring about, reviewing, and advising students regarding prior felonies.

Persons Affected

Faculty, Staff, Students

Policy Statement

State University of New York (SUNY) policy prohibits University-wide and individual SUNY campus admission applications from inquiring into an applicant’s prior criminal history. After an applicant has been accepted as a student, the college shall inquire if the student previously has been convicted of a felony if such individual seeks participation in;

• campus housing
• study abroad programs
• clinical or field experiences and internships that require criminal background that require a criminal history check

The information required to be disclosed pursuant to this policy regarding such felony convictions shall be reviewed by the college’s Prior Felony Conviction Review Committee consistent with the legal standards articulated in New York State Corrections Law. The Risk and Compliance Manager will serve as chair of the committee and the Chief of University Police has been designated as the campus liaison with parole, probation, and correctional alternatives offices, and holds a seat on the standing review committee.

Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet the licensure requirements for certain professions. Specific college majors may pose challenges in obtaining field experiences, internships, or licensing for individuals with prior criminal convictions. These programs include, but are not limited to:

• Nursing
• Dental Hygiene
• Medical Laboratory Science

Individuals with prior criminal histories are advised to seek advice and guidance from the chair of the academic department regarding the impact of a criminal record on meeting the requirements of the major/professional licensure or certification prior to declaring the major.

Procedures

1. After an applicant has been accepted as a student, Farmingdale State College shall inquire if the student has a prior felony conviction if they are seeking:

• • Access to campus housing; or
  • Participation in study abroad programs; or
  • Participation in clinical or field experiences or internships that require a criminal background check. Field experiences may include college sponsored trips related to athletics or other extracurricular activities.

2. If a student replies “yes” to the question of whether they have ever been convicted of a felony in response to an application for any of the above listed activities or if a felony is flagged during a background check, the college’s Prior Felony Conviction Review committee shall conduct a review of such indication consistent with the standards articulated in the NYS Corrections Law, Section 753 of Article 23-A, available at https://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/pio/correction-law-article-23a.pdf. When conducting its review, the campus committee must ensure that the student’s privacy and confidentiality is preserved in accordance with SUNY’s policies and applicable law.
3. To facilitate its review, the campus committee shall ask the student to provide:
   • A copy of the student’s self-reported criminal history record (excluding sealed conviction records) or any other similar record. (Note: A Campus shall not request or mandate a student to provide a copy of their criminal history record obtained pursuant to the rules and regulations from the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services);
   • For students on parole or probation status, references from the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Division of Parole or the Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives; and
   • A personal interview with the campus committee if deemed necessary to clarify/verify this information
   • After evaluating all information submitted, the campus committee will decide whether to grant or deny the student’s participation in the activity or to grant such participation subject to certain conditions. This decision will be communicated with the student in writing.

Related Documents

SUNY Policy on Admission of Persons with Prior Felony Convictions

Responsible Office

Risk and Compliance

Policy History

Approval Date: 7/6/2026