A new program is offering free financial advising to Cal State Long Beach students every Monday at the Career Development Center.
Financial Advising, Counseling and Educational Services is a new program that deals with student’s most common financial issues, including student loans, credit card payments and savings accounts.
“It’s mostly about personal finance,” said Aileen Ramis, a certified credit and housing counselor. “We teach students how to manage their money, how to improve their credit score, or teach them what a credit score is.”
The program, which launched Sept. 20, is scheduled to run through the end of the spring semester. Counselors are provided by Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County.
“It’s sort of like a pilot to see how feasible it is,” said Dr. Wendy Reiboldt, chair of the family and consumer sciences department. “We’re just hoping that students take control of their finances.”
Appointments can be made by phone, although Ramis said walk-ins are accepted if the schedule is open. The appointments include a private session with a counselor, but there are plans to offer classes and workshops for more advice to a wider group of students.
The idea for the program developed from a thesis project by Chris Tabellario, manager at the university bookstore, when she was a student in one of Reiboldt’s courses. The research for the project showed that students had both a need and interest in financial counseling and information.
“We try to help students not get in debt early and tell them to live within their means,” Reiboldt said. “A lot of employers are looking at your credit history when they hire you.”
With the program in its infancy stage, a variety of methods have been used to inform students about the benefits, including flyers and signs.
“I think that students don’t know about it,” Reiboldt said. “We’ve been handing out packets to students.”
The services are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Monday. The Career Development Center is located on the second floor of Brotman Hall.
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