Classification: Four-year private 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 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.

How Used:

• Academic progress mini-class.
• Life-skills student trainers.

Program Description: USA Funds^® Life Skills^® was launched as a student-retention effort at Wabash College, an all-male school. The director and assistant director of financial aid identified two opportunities for delivering the program:

They created a mini-class that was required of students who were not making satisfactory academic progress. The curriculum focuses on getting students back on track academically and financially so they graduate on time. Module 1: Get a Grip on Your Finances: Smart Spending for Students is used to encourage these students to discuss their money-management issues. Module 3: Work Hard but Smart: How to Be Successful in School and Graduate on Time is used to focus student attention on time management, homework and other academic topics. These sessions generally last two hours.

Second, they trained a group of student leaders to offer financial-literacy programs for the residence halls and fraternities. 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 and Module 4: Take Control of Your Future: Finishing School and Repaying Your Loans provide the infrastructure for the financial-literacy program offered by student life-skills trainers to their peers in the residence halls and fraternities. Presentations are customized to respond to the specific needs of these student groups.

Staffing Requirements: The financial-aid staff delivers Modules 1 and 3 in the mini-classes. Trained student leaders offer presentations about topics that incorporate Modules 1-4 to peers in the residence halls and fraternities.

Recommendations: The assistant director of financial aid emphasizes the need to examine the campus culture to determine how to implement USA Funds Life Skills most effectively. Because the student body at Wabash College is accustomed to making decisions and participating in campus-leadership initiatives, the implementation strategies identified were appropriate for Wabash College students. The first rule of presentations by students to students is to make them fun. The financial-aid staff encourages teaching by example. On the other hand, they encourage students to tailor the USA Funds Life Skills modules to their own presentation strengths. The financial-aid staff advises that success is more likely when the program is used to advance a common mission.

Campus Contact:
Laura Frye, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Phone: (765) 361-6083 or (800) 718-9746
E-mail: fryelau@wabash.edu