Monday, July 5, 2010
Spencer King doesn’t use a credit card.
“I'm not comfortable using one, so I refuse to get one,” King, a law student from Kansas City, Kan., said. “I feel safer using debit but I know I need to build up my credit. Some day I’ll have to, but not today.”
King isn’t the only student with finances on his mind. A study of University students revealed that 82 percent would like more information about money, debt and credit card management. A new program from the Financial Literacy Task Force is aiming to do just that.
Working with students, the program will make the basics of financial responsibility more accessible, especially because of the program’s location on the third floor of the Kansas Union. The Financial Literacy Program will pilot in the fall and assist students through one-on-one sessions, class presentations, publications, student peer assistants and videos online.
Although King is one student wary of credit card usage, he’s the exception to the rule.
A study released in April by the Sallie Mae Foundation, a company dedicated to saving and planning for education, revealed that nearly one third of college students are using credit cards to pay for tuition and 92 percent of students use credit cards when buying textbooks and other school supplies. Students also aren’t shy about how many credit cards they keep in their wallets — the average student carries 4.6 cards, but more than 50 percent of students own even more.
Students using credit cards isn’t necessarily bad, but the amount of debt many are racking up could cause serious financial problems in the future. Only 17 percent of college students are paying off their balances each month, which is likely connected to the lack of financial education available to students.
Channing Payne, a senior from Wichita, said she thinks the University program could help students. She said she has friends who use credit cards for their life expenses, including shopping and eating out, but that they don’t always have enough money to pay their basic bills as well.
“If students knew about the program, I’m sure they’d use it,” Payne said. “It’s in a good location, it’s just important they’re aware it exists.”
The program is a collaboration between multiple groups on campus, including Student Senate, the School of Business, KU Memorial Unions and the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success.
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