Online Orientation- Help Students Manage Money

When I think of Online Orientation I immediately assume orientation for new students. I envision an eager freshman or transfer student sitting through the orientation soaking up all of the information regarding their chosen college or University.

But what about specialized orientations for other subject areas – not just for general introductions to schools? Specifically, I can think of one for financial aid. Money matters can be overwhelming, confusing and can create horrific results if not managed correctly. That is why an online orientation can be useful. This orientation would target students on financial aid or with scholarships. As a young adult it is easy to mismanage money. Often people don’t learn the importance of managing their money correctly until it is too late. In a worst possible scenario, a student could end up depleting the loan, not turning in paperwork on time for renewal or not following guidelines to maintain the financial aid.

What if students could steer clear from these mishaps? Well, with online orientation money managing mistakes will be avoided. Online orientation for financial aid students can benefit students and financial aid personnel in the following ways:

· Raises awareness for students – Students don’t always read the fine print and can end up not understanding the guidelines of their financial aid – resulting in mismanagement.
· Brings sense of relief to staff – Staff can feel like their job has been done. 100% of financial aid students can be required to go through the orientation. Dealing with money matters in the correct way is really important for both staff and students.
· Allows for measurement of retention – Quizzes can be administered during the orientation to make sure students understand the information.
· Creates measurable student learning outcomes – Online orientation acknowledges all types of students and their learning preferences because it is audio and visually oriented.
· 24/7 access – Staff does not need to spend time administering an orientation and students can access the orientation at home, on their own time at their own pace.
· Permits multiple languages – The online orientation can be provided in multiple languages, ensuring each student understands the content.

Happy Training,
-Carrie Peck
Comevo LLC.