Classification: Four-year private college or university.

Modules Used:

• Module 1: Get a Grip on Your Finances: Smart Spending for Students.

How Used: New-student orientation.

Program Description: Large debt is a significant issue for many graduate and professional students. Recognizing this challenge, SCUHS includes in its new-student orientation a one-hour mandatory workshop that focuses on budgeting and money management. USA Funds^® Life Skills^® Module 1: Get a Grip on Your Finances: Smart Spending for Students is integrated into this workshop. The workshop makes extensive use of the student skills book, which also is offered as a resource for individual students who need additional help. Students are encouraged to continue the workshop dialogue over lunch with the financial-aid staff and fellow students. The staff reports that the activities are very appealing and promote great interaction among the students. The workshop sessions for fall and spring average more than 100 students per term, with fewer students in the summer term. A lender representative supports the initiative by facilitating the workshop during the first week of the fall and spring terms. The financial-aid staff at SCUHS conducts the workshop during the summer term when there are fewer students.

Staffing Requirements: A lender representative facilitates Module 1 in fall and spring; the financial-aid staff delivers the program during the summer term.

Recommendations: Supporting students at the beginning of their educational journey makes it easier for them to cope with the financial challenges they encounter later on in their program. When staff resources are limited, there are creative options for delivering USA Funds Life Skills. The financial-aid staff suggests that inviting external parties, such as lender representatives, to support campus initiatives has been very effective and valuable. Because the staff members have been trained on USA Funds Life Skills, they are available to assist whenever necessary and to offer the program to smaller groups of students during the summer. Training is important for campus staff involved in the planning or delivery of the program.

Campus Contact:
Jenny Phu, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Phone: (562) 947-8755, Ext. 1576
E-mail: jennyphu@scuhs.edu