 |
-- Home, Spring 2000 -- |
|
|
-- Home, Spring 2000 -- |
"Paper or plastic" -- Students want to know"I was responsible with my credit card at first," said one college student. "But then, the card just sort of started calling me."
"I had a talk with my parents when I first got my credit card," said another student. "But it sort of went in one ear and out the other."
At the University of Iowa (U of I), students are talking about credit card management, and asking how to shop for credit cards and deal with massive card solicitations. Staff members across the campus have been listening to their call for help. To address the issue, U of I joined forces with Iowa State University (ISU) Extension to provide credit card education on the Iowa City campus.
Paper or plastic? Managing a credit card is a skill to be learned.
Monique DiCarlo, director of Women's Resource and Action Center, is one U of I staff member who heard the students' request. DiCarlo's first step in this instructional effort was to contact Janet Garkey, ISU Extension family resource management specialist, at the Johnson County Extension office and ask for her help. With Garkey's expertise at her side, she then pulled together a focus group representing a variety of campus services. Named "Paper or Plastic," this team of staff and students includes individuals from the Office of Student Financial Aid, Support Service Programs, Residence Life, Women's Athletics, University of Iowa Student Government and the local Consumer Credit Counseling Service.
"Everyone on the team brings a unique and vital contribution to this effort of educating students about credit card management," said DiCarlo. "But without Jan Garkey, there would be no project. She is the life-blood of the project as she brings her expertise, ISU Extension resources and organizational skills to our meetings."
The bottom line for Paper or Plastic is to get credit card management education to the students. Getting on the new student orientation schedule in summer 1999 was one successful effort. Garkey and the Consumer Credit Counseling Service presented workshops to parents during orientation programs, giving them information to share with students.
Paper or Plastic tried having Garkey present seminars in the residence halls and in sessions with specific groups on campus. Low attendance has led the group to look at different ways to reach the students.
"We needed a broader stroke, a way to reach more students," said DiCarlo. "We are implementing an aggressive educational ad campaign, with advertisements in the 'Daily Iowan,' table tents in the cafeterias, fliers all around campus and signs on the campus bus system. We know that people remember a message best if they see it repeatedly, and that is what we are doing."
Garkey supplies the Paper or Plastic team with ISU Extension research-based information and keeps them updated on national trends. The team then applies that information in a way suited to the needs of U of I students.
Student input shapes the messages on table tents, fliers and bus placards that appear around campus, thanks to the team efforts of Paper or Plastic. The team's current objective is to secure funding for a credit counselor to be housed on campus 10 hours each week for student use.
- More Extension Connection stories
- * Ride the wave of the future: E-commerce
* The GMO opportunity
* "Dynamic leaders" build skills for success
* Iowa horticulture keeps on growing
* Prison horticulture program named research site
* Celebrate 4-H Foundation anniversary
* Alliance addresses rural banking issues
* Agriculture faces "four roads"
...and justice for all. The Iowa Cooperative Extension Service's programs and policies are consistent with pertinent federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, and disability.
- * Visit the ISU Extension homepage
* Send a message:- Stanley R. Johnson, Vice Provost for ISU Extension, vpforext@exnet.iastate.edu
- Mark Settle, Managing Editor, x1settle@exnet.iastate.edu
- * Questions or comments about this site? Contact Laura Sternweis, Editor, x1lstern@exnet.iastate.edu
* Last update: April 3, 2000
