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Financial Wellness Center established as part of expanded partnership

����ԭ�� and Visions Federal Credit Union celebrate the expansion of their ongoing partnership with the unveiling of a new Financial Wellness Center in the university’s Bernardine Hall Commuter Lounge. A ribbon-cutting ceremony, held Thursday, marks an important step in the university’s efforts to enhance financial literacy as part of its ongoing commitment to fostering a campus culture of care to provide students with access to the resources they need to succeed academically, personally, and professionally.

“At ����ԭ��, we strive to create an environment where every student has the tools they need to thrive, both inside and outside the classroom,” said Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D., President of ����ԭ��. “This partnership with Visions, and the Financial Wellness Center, perfectly align with our culture of care, empowering our students with critical financial knowledge that will benefit them throughout their lives.”

Establishment of Financial Wellness Center was made possible through a generous gift by Visions, further strengthening their multi-year partnership with ����ԭ��. Visions is also helping to establish an endowment that will provide students with ongoing financial education workshops and programming led by the Office of Career Development, in collaboration with Visions and has become a matching gift partner for the university’s Council of Independent College’s Vocation Across the Academy Grant. This additional initiative will initiate interdepartmental and university-wide efforts to enhance vocational exploration through storytelling.

“The new installation supports our focus on the community’s financial well-being, and it’s just a fraction of our impact here,” said Tyrone Muse, Visions’ President/CEO. “We’re proud to have such a robust partnership that strengthens the students’ education at ����ԭ�� and their lives post-grad.”

Visions and ����ԭ�� previously announced a partnership in 2021 that allowed students to gain access to micro lending training to support local entrepreneurs through a multi-year sponsorship award to the university’s O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship. Visions also supports the university’s Hope Fund, Reading Collegiate Scholars Program and Athletics Department.

“Increasing our students’ financial literacy is essential to their personal and professional development,” said Leamor Kahanov, Ed.D., Senior Vice President and Provost of ����ԭ��. “This partnership, and the installation of the Financial Wellness kiosk, exemplify our commitment to providing comprehensive support for our students, helping them grow as financially literate, confident individuals.”