By Anthony Lubbers/Director of Student Financial Assistance
In honor of Financial Literacy month, the Office of Student Financial Assistance would like for students to commit to financial wellness as they complete their education and transition to the professional world.  The office will have a table set up in the Ward Edwards foyer from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. and from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the Union beginning April 16 through April 22. There will be information available to students on such topics as “How to Avoid Identity Theft”, “Managing your Money,” “Strategies to Save Money,” “Credit Card Tips,” “Student Loan Repayment Plans” and “Loan Repayment Estimates.”
In addition, students will be directed to go out to My Central to complete the pre-test of the Transit Financial Wellness module (located in the same place as the Alcohol Edu link).  Any student who completes this pre-test in the month of April will be entered into a drawing for a $500 scholarship (student must have a MoCents profile to receive this scholarship).
With student loan debt topping $1 trillion, it is imperative that our students understand the ramifications of their borrowing and the effects repaying those loans will have on their future earnings.  Also, students need to understand that managing credit cards during college and in their first years after will be extremely important as well. That debt can easily get away from a consumer! We want our students to start the next chapter of their lives making sound financial decisions and be successful, and this will be a step in the right direction.
For more information, or to have a representative come do a financial wellness seminar, please let the Office of Student Financial Services know.  Their website is https://ucmo.edu/sfs.
Anthony Lubbers is the Director of the Office of Student Financial Assistance at the University of Central Missouri.