1 Create an Award-Winning Money Management Fair Copyright 2007 National Student Loan Program

2 What you will learn  Understand the purpose of a Money Management Fair  Organize a Money Management Fair  Plan a Money Management Fair  Evaluate your success

3 What is a Money Management Fair?

4 About the event  One-day event  Vendor/display area –provide money management and financial aid information  Personal money management classes  Food and door prizes

5 Previous events  Credit College –weekend mall event, 4 hours/day –nine-month planning period 60+ partners from financial services, social services, legal, media, food vendors, and education providers –supported by over 140 volunteers –600 students participated

6 Previous events  Midlands Technical College –held in student centers on two campuses –three-month planning process –200 participants –first annual in April 2007 –financial aid information and two money management seminars –multiple lenders represented

7 Previous events  Financial Aid Awareness Day –University of Mississippi Medical Center –semi-annual event with large turnout –held at student center –day-long event, new presentations each hour drawings for door prizes students come and go meals provided

8 Organizing a Money Management Fair

9 Why financial aid offices?  Students already turn to their FAO for financial advice –student loans, grants, etc. –same principles apply to wisely funding their education as other financial needs/areas –perfect opportunity to include additional financial literacy opportunities for students

10 Campus/student assessment 1.Look at current activities and ask students, faculty/staff, career counselors, and advisors what types of money management training students need. 2.Review student loan activity for trends (subsidized, unsubsidized, alternative, and emergency).

11 Campus/student assessment 3.Find out if the number of financial aid appeals has increased and why. 4.Determine if your institution’s retention rate is increasing or decreasing. 5.Learn who is dropping out of school, when they leave, and why.

12 Planning a Money Management Fair

13 Identify dates and locations  Research school and community calendars –avoid exam week, Spring Break, holidays, other large events  Consider cost, size, accessibility, availability, equipment needs, student convenience  Finalize later

14 Recruit campus resources  President’s office  Business and admissions offices  Alumni office  Counseling center  Deans and department heads  Residence hall staff  Students and student groups

15 Recruit campus expertise  Students in the media, graphic arts, advertising, marketing, economics, business areas –special “projects” or research topics for student coursework

16 Recruit campus resources  Event space –a place where students gather regularly  Endorsements –highest level possible on campus –highly-influential groups sports team student groups academic leaders

17 Recruit campus resources  Catchy theme  Promote through student groups, residence halls, sororities/fraternities  Incentives –extra credit offered by professors –mandatory participation

18 Recruit community resources  Student loan partners (lenders, guarantors, servicers)  Local banks, credit unions, and retailers  Non-profit groups –Consumer Credit Counseling Service  Credit bureaus and collection agencies  Attorneys

19 Recruit community resources  Credit-related organizations/credit card companies  Chamber of Commerce and United Way  Better Business Bureau  Media outlets  Utility companies (cable, electricity, phone, gas, water)  Bankruptcy court officials and attorneys

20 Set up committees  Marketing/promotional  Site and equipment  Fundraising/in-kind support  Recruitment –volunteers –students  Food and entertainment  Evaluation

21 Ask for support  Financial  Door prizes/giveaways  Volunteers  Print materials  Graphic design  Planning assistance  Other community partners

22 Reward your partners  Allow them to plan  Thank partners equally –list alphabetically when promoting and praising  Let partners display logos  Host a “We did it!” function after the event  Ask the local media to attend

23 “Pulling it off”  Careful planning and attention to details  Check with sponsors, partners, vendors, and volunteers three days before  Keep a “to do” list  Stand back, watch it happen, and glow with pride at the amazing leadership you provided!

24 Evaluating Your Success

25 Evaluation  Ask for input/evaluation during and after the event –partners/vendors –student participants use giveaways as incentive for turning in evaluations –campus administrators

26 Evaluation  Meet with planning partners to review survey results –graduate students design and lead this part of the process  Accept constructive criticism and ideas –start planning to implement a better and more effective event the following year

27 What you learned  Understand the purpose of a Money Management Fair  Organize a Money Management Fair  Plan a Money Management Fair  Evaluate your success

28 Now what?

29 Contact information Sharon Cabeen Vice President of Financial Literacy Brenda Vaughn Director of Financial Literacy

30 Mel Stephens Money Management Consultant Nic Ourso, CPA, CFP Money Management Consultant Pauline Balta Financial Literacy Coordinator Contact information