USA Funds University Offers Online Courses for Student-Employees

Six courses designed to educate student-employees about working in a campus environment now are available through the USA Funds^® University online-learning site.

Student-employees are an important component of an institution’s day-to-day operations. They provide administrative services and also often function as representatives of the institution. Given their integral role, it is essential to prepare student-employees to do their jobs well.

Erratic schedules and time constraints can make effectively training student-employees a challenging process, however. USA Funds University’s online courses can help financial-aid professionals train student-employees with ease at any time.

USA Funds University’s six-course student series provides information about the following topics:

Time management. Although learning to handle competing priorities is a challenge that all students face, for those who also maintain part-time jobs, it is especially difficult. Thus, student-employees should evaluate how they use their time. This course provides information about personal time-management skills by:

• Identifying potential time-stealers.
• Providing time-management tips.
• Giving students the opportunity to perform self-assessments.

Handling difficult situations. Dealing with difficult situations can be stressful for student-employees and, when handled improperly, can leave students and parents with negative impressions. If handled professionally, however, difficult situations can be rewarding and illustrate the value your institution holds for its students and their families. The lessons available in this course:

• Provide a better understanding of difficult situations.
• Discuss general guidelines to follow when handling difficult situations.
• Present a clear technique for dealing with difficult situations.

FERPA and confidentiality. Maintaining the confidentiality and privacy of student records is critical for all departments and employees of postsecondary institutions. In some offices, student-employees may have access to information in other students’ private education records. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, commonly referred to as the FERPA, is a federal law that protects the privacy of student-administration records. This course:

• Explains the importance of confidentiality.
• Provides a general overview of the regulations set forth by the FERPA.
• Describes how those regulations specifically affect student-employees.

Effective communication skills. Because effective communication is key to academic, professional and personal growth, this course offers suggestions for student-employees to improve their communication skills. Course lessons cover the following topics:

• Different types of communication.
• The communication process.
• Suggestions for improving communication skills.
• The importance of active listening.

E-mail and telephone etiquette. This course covers the importance of e-mail and telephone etiquette in business settings. Course lessons provide:

• An overview of e-mail- and telephone-etiquette basics.
• Tips for improving e-mail- and telephone-etiquette skills.
• Opportunities to practice and evaluate proper etiquette.

Business etiquette and office culture. To be successful in the workplace, student-employees should understand proper business etiquette and become acclimated to the cultures of the offices in which they work. This course discusses how student-employees can learn what is considered acceptable and understand the cultures of their offices.

USA Funds University offers more than 30 other online courses that may be of interest to student-services offices.