Classification: Private career school.

Modules Used:

• Module 1: Get a Grip on Your Finances: Smart Spending for Students.
• Module 3: Work Hard but Smart: How to Be Successful in School and Graduate on Time.
• Module 5: Now That You Are About to Graduate: Taking Control of Your Life.

How Used: Academic classes.

Program Description: Hawaii Technology Institute is a mission-driven institution that seeks to provide technology training within an environment that fosters traditional values and life skills. The provost shared his perspective that the more technology we introduce to our society, the more life skills are needed — but the more likely we are to ignore them. The decision to use USA Funds^® Life Skills^® was in keeping with the mission of the institution. The dean and instructors identified the best strategies for integrating the modules into existing courses and activities. The instructors assumed the lead in implementing the modules.

Module 1: Get a Grip on Your Finances: Smart Spending for Students and Module 3: Work Hard but Smart: How to Be Successful in School and Graduate on Time are used in Excel classes, which include having students develop personal-budget spreadsheets and create semester schedules for themselves.

Module 5: Now That You Are About to Graduate: Taking Control of Your Life is integrated into Business Communication and Career Development classes, which discuss cover letters, resumes, interview techniques and other career-preparation strategies.

Staffing Requirements: Instructors are responsible for using content from Modules 1 and 3 in their classes.

Recommendations: The administration should publicly articulate its support for USA Funds Life Skills in order to establish expectations that implementation of the program will be taken seriously. The provost suggests finding a way to add the program to the academic curriculum, rather than as an add-on to student services.

Campus Contact:
Scott Murakami, Provost
Phone: (808) 522-2700
E-mail: smurakami@hti.edu