Classification: Four-year private college or university.

Modules Used:

• 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: Campus-life programs.

Program Description: The financial-aid coordinator learned about USA Funds^® Life Skills^® from a brochure she received in 2002. After exploring the program further, the coordinator considered different strategies for using the modules with Columbia College's students. She then turned to friends in the campus-life community for help. The dean of campus life invited her to a staff meeting to share her thoughts and solicit feedback from the staff. After securing their approval, the coordinator developed a brochure describing the five module presentations she was prepared to deliver to campus organizations upon request. She used e-mail reminders to the groups before their meetings. Those requesting a presentation were responsible for recruiting students to participate.

Three modules are delivered to student groups organized by various campus-life units. An hour is allocated for each module presentation.

The residence-life staff uses Module 3: Work Hard but Smart: How to Be Successful in School and Graduate on Time to help students understand the relationship between sound academic planning and maintaining eligibility for scholarships and other forms of financial assistance.

The athletic department invites presentations of Module 4: Take Control of Your Future: Finishing School and Repaying Your Loans and Module 5: Now That You Are About to Graduate: Taking Control of Your Life for student-athletes as they prepare to graduate. Because many have received some type of financial assistance, this is a good opportunity for them to revisit their financial responsibilities. In addition, the financial-aid coordinator finds that many student-athletes have not prepared a resume, a topic covered in this module.

Staffing Requirements: The financial-aid coordinator assumes responsibility for delivering the modules to groups requesting a presentation.

Recommendations: The greatest challenge is getting students to participate in the group sessions. Session organizers have discovered that food incentives work well to generate participation. They typically arrange for students to go to the dining hall and bring their food to a separate room for the presentation.

Campus Contact:
Colleen Brown, Financial Aid Coordinator
Phone: (573) 875-7362
E-mail: ctbrown@ccis.edu