With the direction of an economics professor, selected student leaders are offering financial advice to on-campus organizations through seminars.
The program, Tiger Paws, is designed to teach students how to improve and maintain their financial status. Tiger Paws was started by Julia Heath, chair of the economics department.
"It's a peer-to-peer group that presents financial literacy topics to organizations on campus," Heath said.
Heath said that after receiving calls about the possibility of having such a program, she decided to organize one so students of The University could benefit. Tiger Paws gives hour and a half seminars about handling finances to campus organizations. Included in the seminars are PowerPoint presentations and handouts. Heath said the best way to carry out the program was to allow students to learn from their peers.
"Having students present to other students would be more effective," Heath said.
She said several topics have been designed to cover many financial issues and concerns to students.
The program covers six different topics: budgeting, identity theft, saving and investing, managing credit card debt, student loans and credit reports. Heath said that while these topics cover the basic financial issues of college students, they are not set in stone.
"If we get enough calls that request a topic that's not on the list, we can certainly develop one for that," Heath said.
Heath said the students who present the seminars are well trained before they meet with organizations. She said preparing the students for an additional topic might take some time, but it would be possible.
Heath said First South Credit Union is the sponsor of the program. Many of the resources to do the training were provided by the on-campus bank. Heath prepares each student for the seminars.
Melvin Guy, senior sports management major, is one of the program's peer mentors.
"We were chosen based on leadership and our campus involvement," Guy said. "From there, we had a couple of training sessions."
According to Guy, the sessions and campus involvement are not the only requirements that allow peer mentors to work with organizations. Guy said their personal experiences help them better instruct students on their finances.
Any organization interested in scheduling a seminar with Tiger Paws should contact Julia Heath at 678-5927.
