Area Admissions Review Systems
Applicants to University Degree Programs with Felony Convictions
Policy and Procedures
In cases when an applicant acknowledges having been found guilty or convicted of a felony, a Committee composed as follows will be convened to evaluate the facts and determine if the applicant may be considered for admission at the University of Chicago:
Dean of the Division/School or his/her designee;
Chair of the Departmental Admissions Committee, head of the School’s Admissions operation, or his/her designee; and
Dean of Students in the University.
At least one member of the Committee must be a faculty member. The Committee may consult as needed with the Office of the General Counsel.
At its discretion, the Committee may ask the applicant for additional information to assist in its evaluation process. Applicants with felony convictions will not be per se disqualified from admission. Rather, in each instance and using reasoned judgment, the Committee will assess all of the information available to it on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration a variety of factors including but not limited to: (i) the nature and gravity of the offense; (ii) the time that has passed since the conviction; (iii) the applicant’s age at the time of conviction; (iv) the surrounding circumstances; (v) what the applicant has accomplished since the conviction; and (vi) the nature of the academic program to which the applicant has applied.