Workshops designed to help students achieve financial planning success

Many students enter and leave college unprepared to navigate the basics of financial planning and debt management. The Division of Student Affairs and Graduate School are cosponsoring two workshops led by financial literacy advisor Bryan Ashton on Thursday, Oct. 22.

“Teaching Financial Literacy to Students” (for faculty and staff interested in incorporating financial education into their program) will be at 10 a.m. in the Student Union, Room 265.

“Financial Planning Workshop” (for students, open to all) is scheduled for 2 p.m. in the Student Union Movie Theater.

As assistant director with the Student Life Student Wellness Center at Ohio State University, Ashton oversees financial education and outreach programming aimed at helping students successfully manage money. He has authored numerous articles on collegiate financial education, led studies on student debt and is the co-founder and co-chair of the National Summit on Collegiate Financial Wellness.

“Bryan’s approach is unique in that it comes from a wellness perspective,” said Karen Shaffer, assistant vice chancellor and director of student activities at UNC Charlotte. “Financial responsibility is a key component in a student’s transition from college into their professional career. These workshops can help us provide students with the tools they need to successfully navigate that transition.”

The two sessions will focus on learning the core components of personal financial planning that include creating and following a financial plan in college, achieving financial wellness after college, coping with financial stress and managing student loans and debt.