“Live Like a Student” at the University of Minnesota Duluth Niki Pechinski, Financial Literacy Educator

Presentation Synopsis Live Like a Student at the University of Minnesota Duluth was created in June 2013 by Niki Pechinski, Financial Literacy Educator in the Office of Financial Aid. The mission of Live Like a Student is to inspire positive financial behavior in students. This presentation will highlight the ways Financial Literacy efforts help students at UMD.

“Housekeeping” Financial Literacy at UMD is located in the Office of Financial Aid –Provides a “holistic” approach to student finances –Where financial aid meets personal finance. The Financial Literacy Educator position is full-time!

Agenda Reach your audience Financial Literacy initiatives at UMD 1.In-person 2.Online 3.Peer-to-Peer What’s next?

Reach Your Audience Start with young minds –“Welcome Week” activities are a natural place to introduce students to their financial literacy journey Find and use a captive audience –Optional programs with free food didn’t work for us! –In-class presentations do! –Meet students where they are Club meetings and the classroom Don’t be a secret resource! –Use multiple avenues with the same message Posters, digital signs, blasts, social media

Reach Your Audience Focus on being timely and relevant –Budgeting and credit rather than retirement and insurance Keep it simple –Repetition is one of the keys to learning!

Initiatives at UMD Live Like a Student Game Show In-class presentations 1:1 meetings as needed Poster campaigns Website and Social Media

In-Person Summer camps Freshman Orientation –“Live Like a Student” Game Show Classroom presentations – this is where students already are! –Freshman “Seminar” course –1000-level mathematics –Chemical Engineering Freshman and Seniors –Athletic Training –“Faculty: Don’t Cancel That Class!”

Online Live Like a Student webpage –Budgeting, borrowing, and credit –Where to get more information –Who to contact for help Bulldog Update newsletter for parents –“Dollars and Sense” Social Media –Twitter and Facebook

Financial Peer Mentor Program Coming Spring 2016! Train 25 mentors in financial literacy basics and mentoring via a two-credit upper division elective “Match” mentors with one or two mentees Mentees and mentors work together for one semester on mentee’s personal financial situation Completely free for mentees!

The Future Debt Report Card For-credit financial literacy peer mentoring

Thank you Niki Pechinski, Financial Literacy Educator (218)