Campus Life

Free workshops available on student loans, budgeting, debt

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The University Libraries is hosting a number of free workshops this semester as part of the "Money Counts: a Financial Literacy Series." The one-hour workshops, presented by Daad Rizk, Penn State financial literacy manager, will each be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library. Resources are also available online for downloading or viewing.

The schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, Feb. 17:FAFSA and ScholarshipsEach year, students and parents complete the FAFSA to be considered for financial aid from the federal government, and in most instances, additional money from the state in which they reside and the college they want to attend. That’s why the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is so important — it is the gateway to three potentially big sources of financial aid from federal, state and college entities. If you don’t complete a FAFSA, you could be missing out on a lot of financial aid, including potential scholarships. In this workshop, Rizk will help students review the Financial Aid Process, understand the FAFSA application, and explore options to find scholarships to finance education.

Wednesday, March 16:Spring Clean Financial ClutterSpring cleaning can clear clutter in your personal financial life just like it does for your closets and garage. In this workshop, learn how to take control of your finances and simplify financial record-keeping for year-end tax purposes, reducing stress and saving time in the long run.

Wednesday, April 20:What is Financial Literacy?What is financial literacy and what are the skills that students need to acquire? In this workshop, Rizk presents an overview of financial literacy and gives specific steps and tips to examine and alter core attitudes and beliefs about money management as a prelude to reaching a successful financial life.

Wednesday, May 18Strategies for Success: Student Loan RepaymentWhen you graduate, withdraw from school, or drop below half-time enrollment status you will have six months before your first payment is due on your subsidized and unsubsidized loans. This workshop will provide budgeting tips to meet your payments and strategies to protect your financial reputation throughout the terms of the loans. Learn how to get yourself ready to start the repayment process, choose your repayment plan, and make the decision to consolidate your payment.

Lauren Reiter, business librarian, has created a guide on financial literacy for students for further reference. For more information on the workshops, or if you anticipate needing accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, contact Reiter at lmr29@psu.edu or 814-865-4414 in advance of your participation.

Last Updated February 4, 2016