Financial Literacy eLearning Portal Ready to Support NYHELPs

Jennifer Dwire

The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is pleased to announce the initial release of its new Financial Literacy eLearning Portal to support applicants for New York Higher Education Loan Program (NYHELPs) private loans.

Every day, people at all stages of life make important financial decisions, too often without adequate know how. Time and again, the result is over spending, accumulating excess debt, taking too much risk, and sometimes, even default.

HESC’s financial literacy program will give students and families knowledge and strategies to avoid these pitfalls.

To support the launch of NYHELPs, the initial financial literacy experience will cover two key areas: financial aid basics, through a course called Financial Aid 101, and details about NYHELPs loans, including terms and conditions for borrowers, called NYHELPs.

Presented as an animated journey through New York State, users learn in a contemporary, graphically rich environment. They may complete courses one section at a time or in their entirety. They’re even free to leave and return to the program as their schedules allow.

However, borrowers must complete the NYHELPs course before they are allowed to complete the NYHELPs application process and qualify for the loan.

HESC believes NYHELPs borrowers will come away from their financial literacy experience with useful knowledge about what it takes to make smart borrowing decisions and a solid understanding of their obligations when taking out a NYHELPs loan.

Through the coming year, HESC will launch courses covering the following additional subjects:

Student Loans
Credit Cards
Credit
Budgeting
Banking Basics
Identity Protection

We’ll keep you informed as the broader HESC Financial Literacy program launch nears.