USA Funds Life Skills Helps Art Institute of Houston Foster Good Relations With Students

The Art Institute of Houston is beginning to see positive results from offering the USA Funds^® Life Skills^® financial-literacy program to its students. According to Deanna McBee, loan coordinator, after attending the USA Funds Life Skills sessions, students begin to understand that she’s there to help them. More students are asking for her assistance with a variety of issues.

“We’ve received so much positive feedback,” says McBee. “Students appreciate the help, and they learn that they can come to me for help with things they can’t do for themselves. I emphasize that I’m not here to collect money from them; I’m only here to help. The relationships that begin during these sessions are helping students stay on the right path.”

McBee is counting on that relationship building to help improve the institution’s cohort-default rate. She believes that better relationships with students will lead to an increased student-retention rate — and that enhanced student retention will decrease student-loan defaults.

USA Funds Life Skills is part of a mandatory “College 101” course for entering freshmen at the Houston school. In the hour-long session, McBee offers information from Module 1, “Get a Grip on Your Finances: Smart Spending for Students,” and Module 2, “Seek out Financial Aid: Funding Resources and Financial Obligations.” She discusses study habits, budgeting, the use and pitfalls of credit cards, needs versus wants, and paying bills on time.

McBee also offers two or three seminars each quarter to all students, featuring modules 1 and 2, as well as Module 3, “Work Hard but Smart: How to Be Successful in School and Graduate on Time.” She offers food as an incentive to attend, as well as prizes and scholarships.

“Students come, get helpful information, and they give great feedback,” says McBee. “Students always ask when the next seminar will be held. I see repeat students who learn something new each time. I definitely believe that students benefit from these sessions.”

McBee uses Module 5, “Now That You Are About To Graduate: Taking Control of Your Life,” in exit-counseling sessions with graduating students. She also uses Module 7, “Connect as a Couple: Confronting Relationship Challenges Together,” in sessions for nontraditional students and their spouses.

“The great thing about USA Funds Life Skills is that you can gear it to what your student body needs, McBee says. “You can pick and choose from the modules and use the information that your students will benefit from. The program is so flexible. Best of all, it’s really helping our students.”

The Art Institute of Houston is one of the Pittsburgh-based Education Management Corp.’s 66 primary campuses. EDMC encouraged its campuses to use USA Funds Life Skills beginning in August 2004.

You may order USA Funds Life Skills materials online. For more information about USA Funds Life Skills, contact your debt-management consultant.