Classification: Private career school.

Modules Used:

• Module 1: Get a Grip on Your Finances: Smart Spending for Students.
• Module 2: Seek out Financial Aid: Funding Resources and Financial Obligations.

How Used:

• Student-success course.
• Student-affairs seminars.
• Exit counseling.

Program Description: USA Funds^® Life Skills^® had the endorsement of the president and the director of financial aid at the Art Institute of Houston. Before making a decision about how they would implement the program, the senior Stafford-loan coordinator attended a USA Funds training workshop to learn more about the program content and potential implementation options. She and the director of financial aid decided to invite a USA Funds debt-management consultant to provide a workshop for those campus professionals — including representatives from advising, student affairs, career services, program directors and department heads — whom they hoped would embrace the program. The final plan included offering the program in the freshman-success course, as well as in seminars sponsored by student affairs and in exit counseling.

USA Funds Life Skills Module 1: Get a Grip on Your Finances: Smart Spending for Students and Module 2: Seek out Financial Aid: Funding Resources and Financial Obligations are presented to all entering freshmen in a required student-success course, College 101. The loan coordinator provides a one-hour presentation for each class. She reports that students are especially intrigued by what they learn about budgeting and their credit reports. Students also appreciate learning about outside sources for financial assistance.

The office of student affairs uses selected topics from Module 3: Work Hard but Smart: How to Be Successful in School and Graduate on Time and Module 4: Take Control of Your Future: Finishing School and Repaying Your Loans with students.

Module 5: Now That You Are About to Graduate: Taking Control of Your Life is incorporated into the college's exit-counseling program and is delivered by the senior Stafford-loan coordinator.

Staffing Requirements: The financial-aid staff is responsible for delivering the modules to all student groups.

Recommendations: The financial-aid staff recommends approaching each department head to highlight the benefits that USA Funds Life Skills can offer their students. Pilot testing is suggested, as well, to allow opportunities to personalize the presentations for different student groups. Advertising the seminars through flyers and word-of-mouth promotions helps to generate interest in financial education.

Campus Contact:
Dora Espitia, Senior Stafford Loan Coordinator
Phone: (713) 353-4145
E-mail: espitiad@aii.edu