Exhibit 8.3

                    AMENDMENT TO FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

     The  Fund  Participation  Agreement,  dated  as of May  13,  1997,  between
American  Fidelity  Assurance  Company,  and each of Dreyfus  Variable Fund, The
Dreyfus  Socially  Responsible  Growth  Fund,  Inc. and Dreyfus Life and Annuity
Index Fund,  Inc.  (d/b/a Dreyfus Stock Index Fund) (the  "Agreement") is hereby
amended to add Dreyfus  Investment  Portfolios  as a party,  as of the effective
date of this agreement, and as follows:

     Exhibit A is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                                   "EXHIBIT A
                           LIST OF PARTICIPATING FUNDS

                        Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund
                  Growth and Income Portfolio - Initial Shares
                 Small Company Stock Portfolio - Initial Shares
                 International Value Portfolio - Initial Shares

                    Dreyfus Stock Index Fund - Initial Shares

          The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc. - Initial
                                     Shares

                          Dreyfus Investment Portfolios
                  Technology Growth Portfolio - Initial Shares"


All other terms and  provisions of the Agreement not amended hereby shall remain
in full force and effect.

Effective Date:  March 1, 2001

AMERICAN FIDELITY ASSURANCE COMPANY

By:  /s/ JOHN W. REX

Name:     John W. Rex

Title:    President


DREYFUS STOCK INDEX FUND

By:  /s/ STEVEN F. NEWMAN

Name:     Steven F. Newman

Title:    Secretary

DREYFUS SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE GROWTH FUND, INC.

By:  /s/ STEVEN F. NEWMAN

Name:     Steven F. Newman

Title:    Secretary

DREYFUS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS

By:  /s/ STEVEN F. NEWMAN

Name:     Steven F. Newman

Title:    Secretary