Level Up Your Money: A College Finance Panel

April is Financial Literacy Month. University Wellbeing celebrated the month by hosting Level Up Your Money: A College Financial Panel on April 15, 2026. This week's episode is a recording of this panel discussion. Join our panelists, Beth Vollan from financial aid, Bruce Johnson from the Ness School of Management and Economics, Kevin Fullerton from career development, and Autumn Garr from the counseling center, to learn how students can better understand the financial decisions they face during college and beyond.   Learning Outcomes: As a result of listening to this podcast, listeners should be able to: 1. Identify common financial challenges faced by college students and explain how budgeting habits influence short- and long-term financial wellbeing. 2. Evaluate borrowing decisions by connecting loan amounts and repayment options to realistic income expectations and anticipated post-graduation expenses. 3. Explain how early financial behaviors, such as making small loan payments while in college or saving incrementally, can reduce future financial stress and debt burden.   Processing Questions 1. After listening to this episode, what is one financial habit you realize that may want to change or pay more attention to? 2. How comfortable do you currently feel asking questions about money, loans, or financial decisions? What influences that comfort level? 3. What strategies from the episode could help you tell the difference between needs, wants, and impulse purchases? 4. The panel described loans as a tool rather than something inherently "good" or "bad". How does this perspective affect how you view student debt? 5. What does financial confidence mean to you, and how does it connect to your overall wellbeing?