CFEE Guidebook

21 BUILDING FINANCIAL CAPABILITY THROUGH FINANCIAL COACHING fair amount of time and coordination, but it is more effective than trying to get the word out with flyers or other forms of publicity. Word of mouth is also an effective marketing tool, as students in the program frequently recommend it to friends and classmates. Collaborating with an array of partners on campus is essential to building a financial coaching program in terms of attracting stu- dents and garnering cross-divisional support. The organizations and programs mentioned below are those that can benefit from a finan- cial coaching connection. English as a Second Language Financial coaching can be instrumental in helping students in ESL programs qualify for higher-paying jobs or matriculate in degree programs. Many ESL students are adults who have college degrees or professional degrees from their home countries, but they cannot work in their chosen field in the United States due to a number of factors. For this reason, stu- dents in ESL programs are ideal candidates for financial coaching. Some are new immigrants and are unfamiliar with our financial system or requirements for obtaining credit. Others have been in the US for years but are struggling in minimum-wage jobs. They are committed to improving their economic situation and are eager to take advantage of a program that helps them gain financial and money management skills. Part of our coaching process was to help them identify options for paying tuition, applying for scholarships, or transferring to a four-year institution. TRIO TRIO is a federally funded program that pro- vides support services to individuals identified as having academic needs and who are low-in- come, first-generation college students and/or have disabilities. The government requires that all TRIO programs make financial education a required part of their activities, and each pro- grammust document the specific events that they offer. For this reason, the TRIO program is a natural partner for financial coaching. TRIO staff can collaborate to plan recruiting events and they can actively encourage their students to participate in financial coaching. The TRIO advisors can then use the outcomes from the coaching program to strengthen the financial education data that they deliver as part of their grant reporting. KEYSI Keysi has ambitious plans for her career. She graduated fromWestchester Commu- nity College with honors and an AAS degree in accounting in 2019. Keysi plans to continue her studies toward a bachelor’s degree in accounting at Baruch College in New York City, and ultimately hopes to become a CPA and complete a master’s degree in taxation. Keysi first learned about the Money Smart Forum through her participation in the Accounting Club, where her accounting professor encouraged students to join the program. Once in the program Keysi learned that she could improve her financial behavior by becoming more disciplined about budgeting and saving. Keysi encourages other students to join the program. “I learned the significance of saving, budgeting, and investing in the future to ensure my long-term financial security.”