Give Students the "FACTS" of Life

Anita Phillips

HESC's new financial literacy program will help schools help their students manage their money and reduce student loan default rates.

Called Financial Awareness and Consumer Training for Students (FACTS), this program addresses many facets of personal financial management of interest to students.

FACTS Modules

FACTS is a series of prepackaged, computer-delivered modules that cover practical topics for students, including how to manage credit cards, stay current on student loans, develop personal spending plans, and avoid identity theft, among other useful topics.

“Our mission is helping people pay for college, and part of that mandate is educating students about the ramifications of credit card debt and the realities of paying student loans,” said HESC President James C. Ross.

Easy to Download, Easy to Present

The FACTS program is easy to download from the HESC Web site to a desktop computer and can be customized with a college’s logo. Each module includes a PowerPoint or PDF presentation with accompanying talking points, brochures and handouts.

A school can choose which modules it wants to present, targeting its message to the needs of particular student groups.

FACTS can be used during entrance and/or exit counseling, at freshmen orientation, or at any time convenient to the school’s financial aid office. Modules can be presented by campus financial aid staff or by trainers from HESC.

Enthusiastic Reception

The financial aid office at the State University at Stony Brook is looking forward to implementing FACTS on campus. “One of our goals is to educate our students in financial literacy,” said Jacqueline Pascariello, director of financial aid at Stony Brook. “We appreciate anything from HESC that helps us meet our goals,” she added.

More details about FACTS can be found on the HESC Web site at www.hesc.org.