Today@Sam Article
Here To Help: Student Money Management Center
Oct. 15, 2019
SHSU Media Contact: Wes Hamilton
![here to help[1]](/today@sam/images2/2019/here to help[1].jpg)
Story by: Mikah Boyd
“Here to Help” is a series focused on educating students on all the services available at Sam Houston State University. Many times students are unaware that these services are often offered at no cost with a Bearkat OneCard. Visit today@sam/HereToHelp to find the list of stories highlighted so far. If your department or student service would like to be featured for a future story email today@shsu.edu.
Financial stability can seem unattainable for many college students with textbooks, tuition and student loans consuming all of their funds, but the award-winning SHSU Student Money Management Center is here to help students overcome these financial hurdles. For the past three years, LendEdu ranked the SHSU Student Money Management Center among the Top Ten Collegiate Financial Literacy Programs in the United States.
The Student Money Management Center, located in the Student Affairs Annex, is a financial outreach and educational program administered by the Division of Enrollment Management that aims to empower students to achieve financial independence. They offer assistance through personal consultations, workshops and presentations that work to foster financial literacy and personal success.
Personal consultations are private, confidential sessions where students are able to discuss their financial questions and concerns to get a financial plan tailored to them and their specific needs. Counselors consult students on a wide variety of topics such as fee statements, financial aid packages, refunds and appeals, reducing debt, applying for SNAP and TANF, tuition rebates and student loan repayment including information about Teacher and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Patsy Collins, associate director of the Student Money Management Center, is dedicated to helping students succeed and has a number of tips she is happy to share, including five tips for student loan repayment.
- Check to determine if you are eligible for the State of Texas Tuition Rebate.
- Determine if you are eligible for Teacher Loan Forgiveness.
- Determine if you are eligible for an Income Driven Repayment Plan and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
- Beware of Extended Repayment Plans that will reduce your current loan payment but cost more in interest over the years.
- Beware of consolidating federal loans with 3rd party lenders. You will not be eligible for any of the loan forgiveness features of federal loans.
Signature Workshops are large group presentations that cover a variety of financial topics that affect college students. Each semester, the SMMC hosts several workshops designed to teach students about financial literacy and meeting their needs. There is pizza and drinks available at all 6 p.m. workshops on a first-come, first-served basis for attendees with an active Bearkat Onecard.
Presentations through the SMMC are done by request only and cover a wide variety of topics such as; budgeting, study abroad, credit, money habits, Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and the financial appeal process, financial literacy and student loan repayment.
Alongside consultations and workshops, the SMMC has scholarships available to students. Students who attend any workshop have a chance at winning a $100 scholarship and those who attend 6 or more workshops over the 2019-2020 academic year will be eligible to participate in the SMMC Jeopardy Student of the Year contest with a $500 scholarship awarded to the winner.
The SMMC offers another chance at winning a $500 scholarship for students who complete the Fraud Protection module of CashCourse and pass the Post-test with an 80 or higher. This opportunity closes on Nov. 30, with one winner announced on SMMC social media on Dec. 4. The contest is held to encourage students to use the financial tools that are available to them free through CashCourse.
The Student Money Management Center is open to walk-ins from 9-11 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday. To schedule a personal consultation, follow this link, email their office at smmc@shsu.edu, or call (936) 294-2600.
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