Staff editorial: Financial awareness critical for students

 

Procrastinating may be a viable yet stressful option for many students when it comes to schoolwork, but postponing the handling of school finances almost always results in stressful situations for both students and University staff.

Students must be more proactive in handling their financial commitments in order to avoid holds on their University accounts, unnecessary stress and future financial traps.

Too many students failed to register for one of the many payment plans provided by the financial aid office before the deadline, Jan. 25, and this resulted in their accounts being placed on hold, halting academic progress by making it impossible for these students to register for classes or request transcripts until they clear the hold. This can be done by contacting the financial aid office and applying for a payment plan or paying in full, both of which can still be done.

Both students and staff suffer when students choose to ignore, or do not properly handle, payment plans. With the University generously providing about 90 percent of students with financial aid, students must take an active role in managing their accounts. The financial aid office has provided a way for students to stay informed about this through HuskyNet and University emails, both of which should be checked often.

College graduates do not leave fiscal problems behind them as they walk across the stage on graduation day. Financial issues only increase as graduates venture into the professional world. Consequences worse than frozen accounts, such as bad credit and the inability to purchase a house, await those who ignore financial affairs. The ability to manage finances is one more vital skill college students must learn to operate well outside the University.

The idea of managing financial accounts is even addressed in the Bible. Proverbs 21:5 says, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,” which can apply to those who are diligent in planning ahead and following up on finances. The University payment plans do this.

College serves many purposes, such as training young adults to manage their lives. Adults in the professional world handle financial issues every day, and the University is trying to prepare students for this.

Students must begin to manage their University financial accounts.