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SFA > Awards/Scholarships - By Program > Supplemental Grants/Remission of Fees > Children and Spouse of Public Safety Officer Children and Spouse of Public Safety Officer

The CVO Program covers eligible children and spouses of certain Indiana public safety officers (PSO) killed in the line of duty (IC 21-14-6) or permanently disabled state troopers (IC 10-12-2-11).

Who is eligible?

The child of a PSO killed in the line of duty who:

  1. is less than 24 years of age on the date of the PSO's death; and
  2. is enrolled full-time at an eligible Indiana institution pursuing a prescribed course of study.

The spouse of a PSO killed in the line of duty who:

  1. is enrolled at an eligible Indiana institution pursuing a prescribed course of study towards an undegraduate degree.

The PSO killed in the line of duty must have been:

  1. a legal resident of Indiana at the time of death;
  2. a public employee of the state or an Indiana county, township, city or town; and
  3. one of the following:
    • a regular, paid law enforcement office (including a police officer, sheriff, correctional officer, excise police officer, conservation enforcement officer, gaming agent, gaming control officer, marshal, deputy marshal, state educational institution police officer, probation officer or member of a consolidated law enforcement department);
    • a police reserve officer;
    • a regular, paid firefighter;
    • a volunteer firefighter (as defined in IC 36-8-12-2);
    • a paramedic (as defined in IC 16-18-2-266);
    • an emergency medical technician (as defined in IC 16-18-2-112);
    • an advance emergency medical technician.

The child of a permanently disabled state trooper who:

  1. is less than 23 years of age; and
  2. is enrolled full-time at an eligible Indiana institution pursuing a prescribed course of study.

The spouse of a permanently disabled state trooper who:

  1. is enrolled at an eligible Indiana institution pursuing a prescribed course of study towards an undergraduate degree.

The state trooper must be an employee beneficiary who has a permanent and total disability from a catastrophic personal injury that was sustained in the line of duty and permanently prevents the trooper from performing any gainful work.

Children must be the biological or legally adopted child of the PSO killed in the line of duty or the permanently disabled state trooper, and spouses must have been married to the covered officer at the time of death. At the time of legal adoption, a child must have been unmarried with no dependents and not a veteran of the armed forces. Adoption by a spouse of the PSO or state trooper is not valid for inclusion of the child in the program.

To remain eligible, the child or spouse of a PSO killed in the line of duty or a permanently disabled state trooper must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as determined by the institution and annually file the appropriate (and error-free) academic year's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

What is the benefit?

As a supplement to other state grants, this benefit pays 100 percent of tuition and regularly assessed fees at an eligible Indiana institution.

For a child of a PSO killed in the line of duty, the benefit is limited to 8 semesters. If the child first applied and became eligible for the benefit before June 30, 2011, there is no time limit to use the allotted 8 semesters. If the child first applied and became eligible for the benefit after June 30, 2011, the allotted 8 semesters must be used with 8 years after the date the child first applied.

For a child of a permanently disabled state trooper, a spouse of a PSO killed in the line of duty or a spouse of a permanetly disabled state trooper, the benefit is limited to 124 credit hours. If the child or spouse first applied and became eligible for the benefit before June 30, 2011, there is no time limit to use the allotted 124 credit hours. If the child or spouse first applied and became eligible for the benefit after June 30, 2011, the allotted 124 credit hours must be used within 8 years after the date the student first applied.

A child of a PSO killed in the line of duty or a permanetly disabled state trooper may use the benefit at the undergraduate, graduate and professional degree level. A spouse of a PSO killed in the line of duty or permantly disabled state trooper may use the benefit at the undergraduate and professional degree level. However, tuition and regularly assessed fees for all students will be paid at the undergraduate rate charged by the institution.

How does an individual apply for this benefit?

Application for this benefit is required. Each child and spouse must submit a separate application.

To receive this benefit, individuals must:

  1. Mail the completed application (see additional resources below) and all necessary documentation to SFA at least 30 days before the start of the college term at:
    CVO Fee Remission Program
    Division of Student Financial Aid
    Indiana Commission for Higher Education
    W462 Indiana Government Center South
    402 West Washington Street
    Indianapolis, IN 46204
    SFA, after receipt of the application, will return an approved application to the student. If the application is not approved, the student will be notified in writing.
  2. Submit the approved application to the financial aid office of the institution the student plans to attend no later than 30 days prior to the end of the college term; and
  3. File the appropriate (and error-free) academic year's FAFSA. The FAFSA must be completed no later than 30 days prior to the end of the college term. (The preferred completion date is by SFA's March 10 receipt deadline.)

Reapplication is necessary whenever a student changes the school he or she is attending or the student stops attending school for two or more consecutive semesters (excluding summer).

Questions

Questions regarding this program may be directed to 317.232.2350 or awards@sfa.che.in.gov.  

Additional Resources