Classification: Four-year public college or university.

Modules Used:

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

How Used: College-experience course.

Program Description: The financial-aid office at Washburn University has partnered with the instructors in a required freshman-experience course to integrate the USA Funds^® Life Skills^® program into their curriculum.

The director of financial aid uses the hour-long session to let students know the importance of balancing their academic and financial lives. To that end, she uses Module 1: Get a Grip on Your Finances: Smart Spending for Students to cover the following topics:

• How to apply for financial aid.
• Maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
• Understanding loan limits and options.
• Setting goals.
• Developing a budget.
• Differentiating between wants and needs.
• Creating awareness of credit-card pitfalls and credit history.
• Discussing earning potential.
• Understanding gross earnings versus net earnings.
• Managing the money you have.

The goal is to present the information so that when students encounter difficulties, they have the resources to deal with the issues. She wants them to see the financial-aid office as one of their resources. In fact, the director gives each student a package of Ramen noodles to ensure they’ll never be hungry! She also gives them a resource booklet and the CD for Module 1 to take with them.

Staffing Requirements: The director of financial aid delivers Module 1 to each section of the college-experience course.

Recommendations: Following the lead of the financial-aid director at Washburn, campuses considering the USA Funds Life Skills program should look for opportunities to make the program a part of the campus fabric so that the presentations will not become a one-time event. Promoting the quality of the program’s content through "power" presentations, like those offered to Washburn’s freshman-orientation classes, will encourage others to consider using the program. Inviting other campus units to participate in the training offered by USA Funds is another strategy worth considering.

Campus Contact:
Annita Huff, Director of Financial Aid
Phone: (785) 231-1151
E-mail: annita.huff@washburn.edu