WICHITA, Kan.–Meritrust Credit Union here has pledged $324,000 over a three-year period to Wichita State University to aid the creation of the career development program for students.
It is partnering with the university’s W. Frank Barton School of Business on the program. The news was first reported by the Education Credit Union Council.
The announcement of the new program comes at the end of a three-year partnership between Meritrust and Wichita State. The ECUC quoted Meritrust CU President and CEO James Nastars as saying the credit union was looking for ways to have a broader impact on WSU after being involved with the university’s Business Booster Series offered through the Center for Entrepreneurship.
Nastars further told ECUC that Meritrust will be working with Wichita State leaders to develop the curriculum for the career-development program and will offer access to the credit union’s financial counselors. Nastars says it’s likely Meritrust board members also will be involved with the program in some fashion.
According to the report, the money will be used primarily for three initiatives: to hire more WSU students as peer financial coaches to help other students gain financial literacy; fund an event called Game of Life in which students navigate their way through simulated financial situations; and put on a conference to train personnel from other Kansas colleges, high schools and middle schools on how to help students improve financial literacy.