BLOOMINGTON - A felony record can stop you from even getting into the college of your choice - long before you test the job market. Some university applications don't ask if a potential student has a felony, but Illinois State University does.

Answering 'yes' to that question could "possibly" be a reason for not being accepted, said Stacy Ramsey, ISU's associate director of admissions.

If a student answers affirmatively to, "Have you been convicted of a felony or are you under current indictment to a felony?" he or she must report what the felony was, when, the circumstances, the status of the situation, and give university staff permission to view criminal records.

"If a student checks 'yes," it doesn't necessarily mean he or she won't be accepted (to ISU)," said Ramsey, noting applications are considered on the individual basis.

Of the 20,000 applications the university receives annually, between 30 and 40 potential students check 'yes' to having a felony record, Ramsey said.

For students who graduate from the College of Education, their chances of getting a job teaching with a felony record, even after spending thousands of hours and dollars on an education, are pretty slim, according to school administrators.

"Felonies are pretty significant," said John Pye, Unit 5's assistant superintendent of human resources.

"We have an even more heightened awareness to that because of what has transpired here," said Pye, referring to Jon White, a former Unit 5 teacher who is serving a 60-year prison term for sexually abusing eight students at an Urbana grade school and two students at an elementary school in Normal.

Unit 5 has been named in lawsuits by victims of families in connection with the case.

Pye said he is not aware of any Unit 5 staff members who have achieved successful careers despite a long-ago felony conviction.

When someone works with children, the requirements are more stringent than in some other professions, said Barry Reilly, Bloomington District 87's assistant superintendent of human resources.

Still, Reilly would look at each applicant separately, bearing in mind the nature of the felony, when it occurred, the number of years that have passed, and the job the person was seeking.

Some people with certain convictions long ago may get another chance; others won't. "My rule of thumb is, 'Would I want this person working with my child,' " Reilly said.

Jim Patton, District 87's education association president, said he is unaware of anyone working in the Bloomington district, as teachers or in other positions, with a felony record.

"In some professions, there isn't a second chance," Patton said.