Bethel University: Saint Paul, Minn.

Classification: Four-year private college or university.

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.
  • Module 3: Work Hard but Smart: How to Be Successful in School and Graduate on Time.
  • Module 4: Take Control of Your Future: Finishing School and Repaying Your Loans.
  • Module 5: Now That You Are About to Graduate: Taking Control of Your Life.

How Used: Financial-management series for freshmen.

Program Description: The educational-loan coordinator at Bethel University used USA Funds® Life Skills® to create a special financial-literacy initiative for freshmen. During welcome week, flyers were distributed to invite students to sign up for the program. One-hour sessions were held one night each week for five weeks. Each weekly presentation focused on the content of one module. The primary goal of the initiative was to provide students with strategies for using their time and money more wisely. The secondary goal of the sessions was to discourage a growing dependence on expensive private loans.

Staffing Requirements: The educational-loan coordinator is responsible for delivering all modules.

Recommendations: Based on her first experience with the program, the educational-loan coordinator suggested that one hour was not enough to cover all the material, as well as respond to questions generated during the presentation. While there is a wealth of information provided in USA Funds Life Skills, she encourages careful selection of topics with the greatest interest and relevance for the target audience. At Bethel University, for example, topics that address the importance of balancing lifestyle and money management are deemed important. She also recommends more interaction with students, even if it means shortchanging some of the topics. The training provided by USA Funds debt-management consultants is helpful in this regard.

Campus Contact:
Anne Luby, Educational Loan Coordinator
Phone: (651) 638-6156
E-mail: a-luby@bethel.edu