Financial Literacy Week Offers Help to Students

By: Sean Ryder

Posted: 3/1/10

Financial Literacy Week, a series of workshops where students can learn about credit and budgets, began on March 1 in Room W11 from 12:30 to 1:30p.m.

Joyce Kulig, Visions Program Learning Disabilities Specialist, said the number one reason for student dropouts in college is financial issues. Kulig said the workshops, which run until March 4, will help students understand credit scores, personal budgets, keeping personal information private, and how to save money. The workshops are run by the Visions Program and the GFA Federal Credit Union.

This is not the first time the Visions Program has run finance workshops. Kulig said there was a similar program last year which ran for only a single workshop. "It was standing room only," said Kulig. "It was very popular."

The program is designed to help first generation, low-income students whose parents have no experience with higher education, said Kulig. These student's parents may not know about certain topics, such as how to process loans, when to take out loans, or what is involved in paying loans. The workshops during Financial Literacy Week deal mainly with personal finance.

"Personal finance is important," said Kulig. "How much is a realistic loan to take out?" she asked, stating that many students do not know the answer to such questions. The issue between 'need' and 'want' can be difficult for new college students.

To the average student, finance can be daunting. While loans can be a maze, "FAFSA, I think they get," said Kulig. She went on to say that if students needed help with the FAFSA, "the Financial Aid Office here at the college does a really nice job."