Livingstone College: Salisbury, N.C.

Classification: Four-year private college or university; Historically Black 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 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:

  • Life skills course.
  • Exit interviews.

Program Description: The default-management coordinator invited representatives from various campus units to hear a presentation by a USA Funds representative. As the consultant demonstrated how USA Funds® Life Skills® could be incorporated into entrance- and exit-counseling sessions, members of the group were considering the potential of the program for other campus initiatives. Livingstone offered a three-credit course called Life Skills. The information included in USA Funds Life Skills appeared to be a good fit for the prescribed curriculum. Two of the modules — Module 1: Get a Grip on Your Finances: Smart Spending for Students and Module 2: Seek out Financial Aid: Funding Resources and Financial Obligations — were selected for immediate implementation in the course. This required three-credit course is taught by members of the faculty. The default-management coordinator is invited to present the two modules in each section of the class.

Two additional modules — 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 were selected for use with graduating seniors as part of the exit-interview process.

In addition to these initiatives, the default-management coordinator goes to the residence halls and provides loan counseling there.

Staffing Requirements: The default-management coordinator delivers Modules 1 and 2 as part of the Life Skills course. She also facilitates Modules 4 and 5 as part of the exit-interview process.

Recommendations: The default-management coordinator strongly recommends the involvement of other departments when considering the potential for USA Funds Life Skills. She suggests inviting a broad cross section of campus units that work directly with students. The goal of all units is the same — to help students function inside the institution while they're enrolled and to function outside once they leave school.

Campus Contact:
Sandra Clark, Default Management Coordinator
Phone: (704) 216-6069
E-mail: sclark@livingstone.edu