12/01/2023
JSU President Don Killingsworth was presented a check on Nov. 16 from CEO Danny Varnon and the team at Family Savings Credit Union, which is supporting the new financial wellness program with a $250,000 gift to the university.
by Buffy Lockette
JSU has partnered with Family Savings Credit Union in Gadsden to create a Financial Wellness program to empower students to take control of their financial health.
The Family Savings Credit Union Financial Wellness program, funded by a $250,000 gift from the credit union, will help students meet their financial goals and create the life they desire after graduation by providing financial literacy training throughout their college journey.
“Although it is rarely a part of school curriculums, financial wellness education prepares students to make sound financial decisions,” said Auburn Taylor, Assistant Director of Default Management and Financial Wellness at JSU. “Through this partnership, we are able to educate and empower our students to make healthy financial decisions at an early age that will encourage lifelong financial wellness.”
Administered by the JSU Office of Financial Aid, the program will host ongoing financial workshops, online learning modules and resources, and individual coaching sessions. Topics will include understanding financial wellness, creating and managing a budget, emotional spending, identity protection, student loan repayment, filing taxes and more.
More than 1200 students received training over the fall as part of the program’s soft launch phase. The team is working to expand over upcoming semesters, including partnering with the university’s first-year experience course, SSC 101, to provide all freshmen financial training beginning in Fall 2024.
Students are encouraged to explore the Financial Wellness program’s website for tools and resources, where they can also schedule an individual coaching session. Campus-wide workshops will be listed on the university event calendar this spring. Campus organizations interested in hosting a group class are invited to complete an interest form or contact Auburn Taylor at adewrell@jsu.edu.
