History

In October 1999 the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) received a grant to develop initiatives that would result in a reduction of students defaulting on their student loans. The Executive Director of the GSFC invited and The University of Georgia’s (UGA) Office of Student Financial Aid proposed a peer counseling program and began working with Georgia Higher Education Assistance Corporation (GHEAC), the guarantor division of GSFC. At the same time, the University of Georgia’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences was working with a group of students to develop a peer counselor program to help students to live on a budget. Through each of these entities, the PFC program was born.

Since Summer 2003, the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs has financially supported the program. That office has provided over $100,000 in support of the program. A list of the programs previously receiving funding is included in Appendix A. In addition, the GSFC also provides funding for the program; staff at the GSFC has provided invaluable technical assistance to identify colleges and universities to bring the Peer Financial Counseling Program to their campus. The staff has done an excellent job of helping staff on these campuses to incorporate the program into their default aversion efforts.

Last year, UGA’s Peer Financial Counseling Program impacted over 1220 students through our dynamic presentations! The program also assisted students by initiating projects including a Holiday Project in the fall to encourage students to be smart in the holiday season as well a Tax Return Project in the spring!

What Others Are Saying About Peer Financial Counseling: