Baylor Libraries Host Money Smart Week to Help Students Manage Finances

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Contact: Lori Fogleman, (254) 710-6275
WACO, Texas (April 22, 2016) – With graduation just around the corner, many seniors at Baylor University are preparing to start their first salaried jobs and earn that first paycheck. However, some students may be unprepared to take their finances into their own hands.
The Baylor Libraries will host Money Smart Week April 25 to 27 in order to change that.
Money Smart Week is a venture between the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the American Library Association that works to build financial literacy skills in United States citizens.
"The libraries are participating in Money Smart Week in an effort to promote financial literacy in our community," said Carol Schuetz, business librarian and associate librarian for liaison services. "Each year, libraries across the U.S. sponsor programs to do this, and we have participated for the last three years. We are doing our part to get the word out and help our students become more financially informed."
This year, the Libraries will offer three lectures, one a day from noon to 1 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, April 25 to 27, in the Dennis Campbell Innovative Learning Space on the second floor of Jones Library.
"These programs will present information that students really need to hear," Schuetz said. "For instance, planning for retirement – this is probably the last thing that most students think about once they graduate and are out in the workforce. Many people put this off until they are in their 40s, and by then it is hard to save enough to have a good quality of life when you retire. Dr. Reichenstein has a great way of talking about this and really putting it out there for students to see that they need to start early on planning for retirement."
Monday, April 25, Bill Reichenstein, Ph.D., The Pat and Thomas R. Powers Chair in Investment Management in the Hankamer School of Business, will speak on personal finance management and retirement planning for the new college graduate.
Tuesday, April 26, Jon Allen, assistant vice president and chief information security officer for Baylor's Information Technology Services, will speak about internet security and how students can keep information and money safe online.
"Internet safety, that goes without saying in today's world," Schuetz said. "But I have also had students tell me that they wish they knew how to do a budget. We actually have a great department on campus, Financial Foundations, that can help them with this, and Jackie Diaz will be talking about budgeting and how it can help you."
Wednesday, April 27, Jackie Diaz, assistant vice president for student financial services strategy and planning, will talk about how to do a budget and why budgeting is important.
"Although two of the programs are geared towards students, everyone is welcome to attend," Schuetz said. "There is information that, no matter who you are, will be good to hear, and everyone can apply it to their situations. All of these programs have very timely information that can help make anyone better stewards of their finances."
The lectures are free and open to the public. Jones Library is located at 1301 S. Second St.
by Jenna Press, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.