Collegiate Times

Every year, students applying to college in the U.S. are asked to disclose information about their disciplinary background in high school as well as any violations of state and federal laws on their college applications.

While this has always been the standard for college-bound teens, the questions are being examined differently after it was found that unusual behavior and disciplinary issues during high school plagued Seung-Hui Cho before last April's shootings.

James Pennix, director of admissions at Roanoke College, said that since April 16, the admissions board at Roanoke is paying closer attention to the responses they get from those questions, as well as teacher recommendations when considering applicants.

"We will always inquire more into a student file if any information seems questionable," Pennix said. "Our goal is to help students to obtain a quality education if they academically qualify."

Pennix also said that if applicants are found to have a criminal background, admissions officials owe it to the campus community to investigate if they think that individual will affect the safety of the school and its students.

"Although we want to give every applicant a fair review, the safety of the campus has to come first in those cases," Pennix said.

Roanoke College, like most colleges and universities, asks students to explain whatever incident occurred in an essay format.

While it's up to each applicant to tell the truth, high school guidance counselors are also required to submit a form that would give the admissions officers the same information they expect the student to give.

Additionally, the list of students who accept an offer of admission is given to the Registrar's Office and run through two databases at the Virginia State Police. The first is the Virginia Criminal Information Network, and the other is the National Crime Information Center Convicted Sexual Offender Registry File. This is done to make sure the criminal history of each applicant is consistent with what they've claimed on the original application.

This process is routine and required by law of all state institutions of higher education since the fall of 2006.

"If there is a link found in the registry, then the Virginia State Police contacts the Virginia Tech Chief of Police for further investigation," said Wanda Dean, Virginia Tech University Registrar. "As you might expect, care must be taken to assure that any applicant found in the registry is validated as being the same individual."

Dean said that since the inception of the law, Tech has had no matches in the database to any of its applicants.

As a result of this new law, being forthcoming with an applicant's criminal and disciplinary history is not only encouraged, but also necessary. These questions place a significant burden on those who have had a small run-in with the law or any kind of suspension during their educational career.

Amy Widner, public relations coordinator for undergraduate admissions at Virginia Tech, said they look at applications holistically and view each situation on a case by case basis.

"Admission is based upon how we feel students will be able to perform academically," Widner said. "We're concerned with how they're going to do here, in all respects."