Find Financial Success in College with SUU's Financial Wellness Center
Posted: October 23, 2023 | Author: Abbie Cochrane | Read Time: 2 minutes
If you’re attending college, you are likely aware of the expenses that come with pursuing a higher education. That said, it may be difficult to fully understand your financial situation until after you graduate and you’re paying back any loans you may have. Not to mention that a student's budget is often tight. Learning how to be financially proficient is one of the first steps to taking control of your financial future, and the Financial Wellness Center at Southern Utah University has many resources available to help you on the road to financial wellness.
The Financial Wellness Center is located on SUU’s campus and provides expert counseling and services for students at any point in their academic career.
There are many ways students can utilize the Financial Wellness Center as they work to gain financial stability and independence. The coordinators assist students in completing their FAFSA and applying for scholarships, as well as provide financial advisory services aimed to help students while they are in school and after graduation.
“The Financial Wellness Office is here to help students navigate financial obstacles by building life-long skills,” said Laurel Buxton, financial wellness coordinator at SUU. “Students can meet with us to discuss their financial options, deal with emergency expenses, work towards paying off debt, and more. We also provide support coaching on private scholarship searches and applications.”
Other aid provided by the Financial Wellness Center includes but is not limited to, scheduling a one-on-one financial counseling session, evaluating your budget, understanding FAFSA, determining your aid package and costs of attendance, scholarship application support and managing your student loans. Students can meet with a counselor by booking an appointment.
“When meeting with students, we'll often ask some of the following questions: What are your financial goals? What have you tried before to reach those goals? By doing this, we're able to create realistic and applicable plans for your finances,” said Buxton.
Additional advice offered by the Financial Wellness Center includes how to manage your needs versus wants, and how you can prioritize your budget to allow you to pay rent, buy nutritious food, and purchase any textbooks or materials you need in your classes.
If you do not have a steady income consider applying for an on-campus job. Various departments across campus offer professional experience to students, whether the job is work-study or a standard campus job. To see available positions, visit the Student Jobs page on the T-Bird website. If you are struggling with the financial aspect of college, don’t hesitate to contact the Financial Wellness Center. Additionally, the Counseling and Psychological Services office is also available to support students and teach them to manage their mental health amidst potential financial trials.
Tags: Financial Aid CurStu Tuition Campus Resources Financial Wellness Admissions
