Ivy Tech Community College Volunteer Firefighter Scholarship
(For Active Volunteer Firefighters and EMS Personnel)
Thank you for serving your community. We deeply appreciate your time and commitment, and in return, we want to help you and your family.
The scholarship provides funds for individuals in any Ivy Tech Community College program, as long as they are an Indiana resident and active volunteer firefighter or EMS personnel.
How to enroll and claim free tuition:
- Apply to Ivy Tech Community College.
- Complete the FAFSA to apply for financial aid.
- Request a letter from the fire department or medical provider confirming your active volunteer status. Once you have the letter, send it to your local Ivy Tech Registrar's office.
Once your student account is coded by the Registrar’s office, you will be able to declare a program of study and sign up for classes in your chosen program.
Please remember to resubmit a letter every term. If you need to stop attending classes for a period of time, a new letter must be presented upon your re-enrollment at Ivy Tech.
Here are some other things to consider about the scholarship:
Why are you offering the Volunteer Firefighter Scholarship?
There is a shortage of volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel, particularly in rural communities. As Indiana’s Community College, Ivy Tech believes it is important to help our local heroes recruit and retain individuals who will keep our communities safe.
How long is the scholarship available?
Ivy Tech Community College is trying out the program for the next two academic years (2020-2021 and 2021-2022). The college will cover tuition and technology fees, but limited funds are available. Ivy Tech hopes the pilot program will provide information for the state of Indiana that will justify funding a statewide program in the future.
Who is eligible for the Volunteer Firefighter Scholarship?
Any Indiana resident who is a volunteer firefighter, or a volunteer EMS personnel, who meets Ivy Tech Community College’s admissions criteria.
What other enrollment criteria is there?
You must enroll as a “degree seeking” student. You can be an existing Ivy Tech student or a new student. You can attend full-time or part-time, and there is no credit hour limit (minimum or maximum) to take per semester. You must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
Are there any exceptions?
Returning and current students must not have a balance with Ivy Tech Community College and must have satisfactory academic performance. The scholarship will not pay for previous outstanding balances.
What if I am a paid firefighter and a volunteer firefighter? Can I receive the scholarship?
Unfortunately, no. This scholarship is intended to recruit individuals to become new public safety volunteers and is intended for those individuals who work in another career, have to spend their own time getting trained, and don’t get paid to do so.
What if I already have a degree? Am I still eligible?
Yes. Ivy Tech Community College will provide scholarships to individuals who are interested in changing careers, if they enroll in a high-demand program for a particular community. However, since funds are limited, Ivy Tech reserves the right to prioritize students who do not already have a degree, on a case-by-case basis, depending on the needs of the community.
What programs are available to me?
The scholarship will cover tuition and technology fees for all for-credit programs at Ivy Tech Community College, except flight, aviation, and general studies.
How long is the scholarship available?
Ivy Tech Community College will provide funding for two years. If additional funding becomes available, students could be eligible to continue the scholarship, according to the terms of the new funding agreement.
In offering the scholarship, Ivy Tech intends to help students obtain an associate degree, which means students could earn a certificate and a technical certificate prior to earning the associate degree. Funding will end after the first associate degree (a total of 60 credit hours) or sooner if no additional funds become available after the two-year pilot program.
What if I receive state or federal aid? Can I still receive the scholarship funds?
Yes. Ivy Tech Community College will apply state and federal aid toward the costs of tuition and fees before covering any unpaid amount with the Public Safety Scholarship. We ask that you first file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, if you are in default or overpayment, then you are not eligible to move forward with federal financial aid.
Will I have to meet Indiana’s FAFSA deadline?
No. However, Ivy Tech Community College encourages all students to meet Indiana’s deadline of April 15 to ensure they have an opportunity to receive maximum aid. Again, if students are in default or overpayment, then they are not eligible to move forward with federal financial aid.
What if I receive funding from the Workforce Ready Grant (Next Level Jobs program)?
The Workforce Ready Grant is considered state aid. This aid will be applied first before the scholarship funds. You will be eligible to continue toward an associate degree, once you complete the Workforce Ready Grant credential.
What happens if I need to leave Ivy Tech Community College, or if I quit volunteering with an emergency service?
If you are no longer actively volunteering with an emergency service, you will no longer be eligible to receive the scholarship. Ivy Tech will not require students to repay the amounts that they may have received in past terms.
As a heads up, you may be required to repay tuition and fees for other aid you may have received, based on currently existing state and federal laws. However, you will not be expected to repay the Volunteer Firefighter Scholarship award.
