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.
• 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:

• College-success course.
• Professional-development course.

Program Description: Hawaii Business College took its cohort-default rate of 20 percent as a call to action three years ago. The financial-aid staff and the academic departments identified a plan for integrating USA Funds^® Life Skills^® into two required courses: the college-success course for new students and the professional-development course for students at the end of their studies. Both are courses taught by regular academic instructors. HBC took an additional step to establish value for the new initiative; students pick up the USA Funds Life Skills student skills books along with their other required textbooks in the bookstore.

Module 1: Get a Grip on Your Finances: Smart Spending for Students, Module 2: Seek out Financial Aid: Funding Resources and Financial Obligations and Module 3: Work Hard but Smart: How to Be Successful in School and Graduate on Time are integrated into the curriculum for the college-success course required of all students during their first term at HBC. The academic instructors spend a minimum of a week (three class meetings) on each of the three modules. Students receive three credits for the course.

The course is designed to provide the student with essential tools for succeeding in college life by focusing on refining the student's academic and life skills. Academic skills include: effective study skills, examination and test-taking strategies, memory improvement, note taking, active reading and listening. Life skills include: resource management, goal setting and motivation, attitude, and managing anxiety.

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 are integrated into the curriculum for a professional-development course that focuses on workplace skills such as problem solving, interviewing and resume writing. In addition, the course focuses on loan repayment and other financial decisions confronting the graduating student. The academic instructors spend more than a week on each module. Students receive three credits for the course.

According to the director of financial aid, the implementation of USA Funds Life Skills has made a huge difference at Hawaii Business College. The default rate has declined to 8 percent from the 20-percent rate of three years ago. Improved communication is another major benefit of the program in that students are more receptive to financial-aid counseling after completing the course.

The program continues to expand beyond the two courses to special presentations for prospective students, the Job Corps and high-school teachers.

Staffing Requirements: Instructors for the college-success and professional-development courses deliver the modules used in their respective courses.

Recommendations: Finding a way to incorporate USA Funds Life Skills into an existing schedule is the most-expedient strategy for activating the program. Training is critical for establishing enthusiasm and a can-do attitude among the instructors.

Campus Contact:
Roxann Bedia, Director of Financial Aid
Phone: (808) 524-4014
E-mail: bedia@hbc.edu