Decision Partners Announces New Multimedia Financial Aid Course
Boston, November 7, 2011 Decision Partners today announced "Paying for College," a new multimedia financial aid course. The course is now included as part of Financial Literacy 101, the nation's leading online financial education program for young adults. Paying for College is designed to dispel the many myths surrounding student aid while walking students through the entire financial aid process - from creating an aid strategy through evaluating repayment options. The course also includes a graded exam and a secure course completion certificate.
"Paying for College offers a concise, engaging education on the most important financial aid concepts, no matter where a student is in the aid process," said Austin Jackson, CEO of Decision Partners. "Since the course is produced using our customizable platform, administrators can modify the program to address the needs of any audience on their campus."
By using one of Financial Literacy 101's course templates or starting from scratch, administrators can create versions of the course to address the needs of applicants, enrolled students, or graduating seniors. The course platform also includes custom messaging capability and the ability to include local financial aid resources. Like all Decision Partners' programs, complete administrative reporting and assessment features are standard.
The new course is offered at no additional charge to Financial Literacy 101 customers.
Paying for College topics include:
- Dispelling Aid Myths - An introduction to the financial aid course and to the many myths surrounding the aid process.
- Types of Financial Aid - The main types of financial aid: education loans, grants and scholarships, work-study, and service programs.
- Understanding Financial Need - How financial need is officially determined, including the concepts surrounding the Expected Family Contribution and Cost of Attendance.
- Are You Independent? - Understanding your financial aid dependency status, including a discussion of what to do if the parents of dependent students refuse to help them pay for college.
- Creating an Aid Strategy - Considerations when planning to pay from school, including school choice, employment options, accounting strategies, and the importance of borrowing wisely.
- Applying for Aid - The aid application process, including descriptions of the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and the implications of college choices.
- Types of Education Loans - A description of the main types of student loans, including government loans, consolidation loans, and private loans.
- Choosing the Right Loan - Questions every student should be able to answer before taking on a student loan.
- Selecting a Private Loan Lender - When federal loans are not enough, private lenders such as banks, credit unions, and nonprofit lenders can help to fill the gap.
- Understanding Capitalization - The impacts of capitalization for non-subsidized loans during school. How paying interest while in school can save money over the life of the loan.
- The Master Promissory Note - An introduction to the agreement that specifies your rights and responsibilities when accepting a student loan.
- Borrowing Wisely - Making smart choices about student loans, including suggestions for staying organized both during and after college.
- Repaying College Debt - Common repayment plans are outlined, as well as instructions for finding your loans and the consequences of non-payment.
- Finding Your Loans - How to find both federal and private loans if loan paperwork is misplaced.
- Income-Based Repayment - IBR options, including the implications of the recent Obama administration changes.
- Dealing with Not Enough Financial Aid - Why some students find themselves with too little aid and what can be done to make ends meet.
Since Decision Partners' courses are modular, topics can be updated quickly in response to changing legislation.
Implementing the Program
Financial Literacy 101 is currently used in a wide variety of contexts, from orientation programs required of all students to department-specific use by programs such as Student Support Services. The new Paying for College course opens the door to an even wider set of options, including aid education programs for applicants and exiting students. At the discretion of the course administrator, aid education topics can also be integrated into general financial literacy education courses and vice versa using course customization.
To learn more about bringing one of our services to your organization, please contact us.