Consistent with SUNY policy, FIT will not inquire into an applicant’s criminal history in the admissions review process. Instead, FIT asks about criminal history only after an applicant is offered admission and submits the $150 nonrefundable tuition deposit. FIT will then determine a student’s eligibility to participate in housing/residential life, study abroad, an internship, or certain clinical or field experiences (each a “covered activity”). A student who discloses a prior felony conviction is not automatically barred from participation in a covered activity. The student will be required to disclose information regarding the felony conviction(s) for review by a standing committee at FIT, consistent with the legal standards in the New York State Corrections Law. The committee may approve participation in covered activities with or without conditions or may deny participation in covered activities. FIT may further require students to certify in applications to participate in covered activities that they have previously provided truthful information about their criminal history and that they have not since been convicted of a felony.
Additional Information
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. At FIT, some academic programs require the completion of an internship, but in some cases this requirement may be fulfilled by substitute academic work. Additionally, some graduate programs at FIT require international travel. Students who have questions or concerns about academic requirements are advised to contact the academic dean of their intended academic program. More information is available in FIT’s policy on Admission of Persons with Prior Felony Convictions.