A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
FUNDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION OF
LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS
There are a variety of sources of funding for law enforcement professionals seeking higher education. These are listed below. In addition, its important to look for legal resources for your education, including legislation allowing or encouraging law enforcement agencies to allow (a) flexible scheduling to attend classes, and (b) use official time for coursework. And that makes sense -- you are training, but from a source that is usually a league beyond the in house training modules one takes on agency time. Claim that resource for your own good and the good of your agency!
Funding Sources
Federal
Private Example
Women in Federal Law Enforcement Scholarships are awarded based on each applicant’s level of academic achievement, commitment to community service, and exhibited professional law enforcement potential. Full-time students majoring in criminal justice or related disciplines are encouraged to apply. One year of completed college coursework, an essay, transcripts, and letters of recommendation are prerequisites that must be satisfied alongside completed applications. Awards $2,000 per year.
The Maryland Police Officer and Probation Agent Scholarship (MPOPAS) is ​awarded to current police officers or probation agents or individuals planning to become a police officer or probation agent, who are enrolled in an academic program that furthers their career in law enforcement. Recipients must pledge to work as a police officer or probation agent in the state upon completion of their studies. ​ Grants of $5,000 may be used for undergraduate or graduate education.
The Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Police Officers (MLARPO). Individuals who received a graduate, professional, or undergraduate degree from a public college or university in the State and now working as a police officer for at least 2 years that are authorized to enforce general criminal laws of state and are a member of a city, county, or state law enforcement agency. The program offers between $1,500 - $10,000 per year in loan repayment assistance.
The Education Services Committee recognizes the need and benefit of education for the members of the Fraternal Order of Police. The committee also recognizes that a member may not be in a financial position to attend a college or a university and the member’s agency/employer may not have a tuition reimbursement program. The National Fraternal Order of Police will provide assistance in the form of an tuition reimbursement scholarship to eligible members so that they may be able to obtain an education degree. Award is $500.
Funding Sources
Federal
Private Example
Women in Federal Law Enforcement Scholarships are awarded based on each applicant’s level of academic achievement, commitment to community service, and exhibited professional law enforcement potential. Full-time students majoring in criminal justice or related disciplines are encouraged to apply. One year of completed college coursework, an essay, transcripts, and letters of recommendation are prerequisites that must be satisfied alongside completed applications. Awards $2,000 per year.
The Maryland Police Officer and Probation Agent Scholarship (MPOPAS) is ​awarded to current police officers or probation agents or individuals planning to become a police officer or probation agent, who are enrolled in an academic program that furthers their career in law enforcement. Recipients must pledge to work as a police officer or probation agent in the state upon completion of their studies. ​ Grants of $5,000 may be used for undergraduate or graduate education.
The Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Police Officers (MLARPO). Individuals who received a graduate, professional, or undergraduate degree from a public college or university in the State and now working as a police officer for at least 2 years that are authorized to enforce general criminal laws of state and are a member of a city, county, or state law enforcement agency. The program offers between $1,500 - $10,000 per year in loan repayment assistance.
The Education Services Committee recognizes the need and benefit of education for the members of the Fraternal Order of Police. The committee also recognizes that a member may not be in a financial position to attend a college or a university and the member’s agency/employer may not have a tuition reimbursement program. The National Fraternal Order of Police will provide assistance in the form of an tuition reimbursement scholarship to eligible members so that they may be able to obtain an education degree. Award is $500.
Legislative and Policy support
Federal
Federal law and regulations provide many ways to support employees’ training and development. Agencies are encouraged to use these flexibilities to meet agency needs and to support employee self-development and learning. There are examples of flexibilities in current Federal training law and regulations, including providing academic degree training. The following information addresses these flexibilities:
• Establishment of training programs
• Training and education related to an employee’s official duties
• Individual learning accounts.
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There are several options for training and education related to an employee’s official duties. These include:
• Paying costs of training and education from program funds
• Paying costs of training and education in advance
• Reimbursing employees for training and education costs
• Sharing the costs of training and education with employees
• Paying costs of qualifying exams (when part of training)
• Paying for academic degrees
• Allowing employees to accept training or reimbursement of training expenses from a non-profit organization
• Training and education-related travel expenses
• Training and education unrelated to an employee’s official duties: adjusting employees’ work schedules for educational purposes
• Paying expenses to attend meetings from appropriated funds
• Allowing employees to accept reimbursement of meeting expenses from a non-profit organization
• Paying for memberships in professional organizations
• Continued service agreements to protect the Government’s interest.