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Financial Focus

Take this time to focus on your financial literacy.

Financial literacy is more than just knowing how to balance a checkbook or being smart with your money. It is about knowing and understanding personal financial matters such as real estate, retirement, investments and – in this case – college. And while we understand that paying for college can be a larger undertaking, it is a worthwhile and sound investment in your future.

Over the course of the winter as you complete Personal Finance 101, you are going to get to know the students who created the presentation(s) and run the Financial Literacy Program, sponsored by the Boehly Center for Excellence in Finance at the Mason School of Business.  

From the Student Creators

Welcome to the Financial Literacy Program’s Personal Finance 101. Created by a group of eight passionate students, we’re happy to share our brand-new content with you: four modules you will complete as part of the Tribe Guide before moving to campus in January! 

Throughout the winter you will be asked to complete the four modules below. These modules cover the basics of what we believe all newcomers to William & Mary should know. However, your financial literacy education does not come to an end after this course!

There are lots of important things you can learn throughout your time in Williamsburg to prepare you for life after college and beyond. We have content from our previous workshops on the Blackboard site already, and if you want to learn more make sure to look for some of our upcoming events next semester! In the past we have covered a wide range of content from budgeting and taxes to investing and planning your financial future.

We are excited for you to begin your financial literacy education through our four module series!

Financial Literacy Topics
Module 1: Budgeting (December 9)

Budgeting is an essential skill to have while in college! Everyone, no matter their situation, should learn the importance of tracking their spending and knowing how to budget. Module 1 of Personal Finance 101 will welcome you to the course, introduce you to different budgeting methods, and provide resources to help you get started!

Module 2: Finance Accounts (December 23)

There are a ton of different types of finance accounts out there. The Financial Literacy Program is here to help you understand each account and why it matters, as well as share some helpful tips!

Module 3: Taxes (January 6)

Ugh! Taxes! Boringgggg! While over half of Americans hate doing their taxes, they are important! Students who work and get taxes withheld can save hundreds of dollars a year by understanding how taxes work and filing tax returns!

Module 4: Savvy Shopping (January 13)

Who wouldn’t want to be a savvy shopper? Our final module discusses tips and tricks to save money while in Williamsburg! These tricks are things the Financial Literacy Program team does ourselves to save money and make sure we are savvy shopping!

Accessing the Course

Personal Finance 101 is available through Blackboard, the university's learning management site, using your W&M student credentials. Click the link below to "Self-Enroll" in the course and gain access to not only this great new student resource, but also several other workshops the Financial Literacy Program has created.

The course is programmed so you must pass each quiz with a 6/7 or better score before you receive access to the next quiz. There’s a test bank of ~15 questions for each module. Once you complete all four (4) modules successfully, your Personal Finance completion certificate is automatically unlocked!

Questions? Having trouble accessing the course? Contact Student Transition Engagement Programs.