South Carolina State School of Business to launch Financial Literacy Ambassador Program
February 19, 2018
SC State University’s School of Business is partnering with the Society for Financial Education and Professional Development Inc. to implement the Financial Literacy Ambassador Program. The program will officially launch on Monday, Feb. 19.
The purpose of the program is to inform students about financial literacy so that they are prepared to make sound financial decisions throughout their lives. The student ambassadors are required to assist their peers and the community, with being well-informed about finances. The ambassadors will also gain essential leadership skills by providing on-campus workshops and training sessions for other students.
The Society for Financial Education and Professional Development Inc., based in Alexandria, Virginia, will provide training to student ambassadors so that they are well-equipped to be financial mentors. The ambassadors will be educated about various financial management topics including, credit management, budgets, risk management, investments, student loan management and homeownership.
The SFEPD Inc. is a nonprofit organization that works to enhance the financial and economic literacy of individuals and households in the U.S. The organization has provided financial education programs to over 90 colleges and universities across the nation, and has taught financial literacy to more than 240,000 students.
SC State and Claflin University are among several historically black colleges and universities that will implement the Financial Literacy Ambassador Program this month.
Each academic school year, four SC State student ambassadors will be selected by the School of Business’ interim dean, Dr. Barbara Adams, and Dr. Guohua Ma, associate professor of finance. Ma will also oversee the program.
The School of Business hopes to increase graduation and retention rates for the university, with the implementation of this program.
The ambassadors for the 2017-18 school year are, D’Metrius Dew, a senior accounting major; Cravern Andrew, a junior management major; Jewel Blair, a junior accounting major and Jah’Nya Francis, a sophomore accounting major.
Ambassadors are required to mentor at least 500 of their peers each semester, through financial workshops. Students will also receive a $500 stipend each semester, during their year of servitude.
The general eligibility requirements for the Financial Literacy Ambassador Program are as follows:
· Must be a sophomore, junior or senior
· Must be a business major
· Must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher
· Must have an interest in learning about financial literacy
For more information about the Financial Literacy Ambassador Program, contact Dr. Guohua Ma at (803) 536-8173 or [email protected].
About South Carolina State
Founded in 1896 as a land-grant institution with a mission of providing service to the citizens of the state, South Carolina State University has evolved from a small teachers’ college into a major University center of learning and research. Located in Orangeburg, S.C., with a student population of some 2,600, South Carolina State offers more than 50 different fields of study on the undergraduate and graduate levels. South Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools.
