Following the 2022 Legislative session, LB1273, sponsored by Senator Bostar and co-sponsored by former Senator Flood (current Congressman Flood), became effective. Included within this legislation was an amendment containing portions of LB1272, sponsored by Senator Halloran. Such provisions increased tuition waiver provisions for law enforcement officers from 30% to 100% if they attend a state university, state college or community college.
In conjunction with the enactment of this legislation, we have been asked, on behalf of Dr. Gaylene Armstrong from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, to provide you with the following information:
It is with great pleasure that we inform you that as of July 2022, new legislation has permitted a waiver for 100% tuition for law enforcement officers. In order to qualify for this waiver, the officer should be aware of the following:
Law enforcement officer shall be entitled to a waiver of one hundred percent of the resident tuition charges
Must maintain satisfactory performance with his or her law enforcement agency (as such, a new verification of satisfactory performance is required each academic year).
Must meet all admission requirements
Pursues studies leading to a degree that relates to a career in law enforcement (generally this is getting an undergraduate degree in Criminology & Criminal Justice, or BMS with a concentration in Criminology & Criminal Justice)
The officer may receive the tuition waiver for up to five years if he or she otherwise continues to be eligible for participation
Shall waive one hundred percent of the officer’s tuition remaining due after subtracting awarded federal financial aid grants and state scholarships and grants
To remain eligible, the officer must comply with all requirements of the institution for continued attendance
Important definitions:
Law enforcement officer means any person who is responsible for the prevention or detection of crime or the enforcement of the penal, traffic, or highway laws of the State of Nebraska or any political subdivision of the state for more than one hundred hours per year and who is authorized by law to make arrests.
Law enforcement agency means a police department in a municipality, a sheriff’s office, and the Nebraska State Patrol
There is no application to submit. What is required is the submission of a certificate of verification from his or her superior officer in such officer’s law enforcement agency attesting to such officer’s satisfactory performance.
If interested, please be sure to submit the required information to:
Financial Support & Scholarships
University of Nebraska at Omaha
(402) 554-2327
unofinaid@unomaha.edu
