The proposed Center is a natural venue to foster interdisciplinary work at Kentucky State University because financial literacy programs are linked to many of the disciplines on campus. Furthermore, the Center will elevate a substantial portion of its programming on projects that cut across boundaries of the University departments. The idea is for the Center to engage the campus community to promote the mission of the Center. In short, the Center will leverage its strength to expose Kentucky State University's high profile in the areas of economic and financial literacy.
The interdisciplinary nature of the Center will reflect a concerted commitment and collaborative effort to promote academic excellence at Kentucky State University. More specifically, the proposed Center can help students become better prepared to:
The interdisciplinary nature of the Center will also provide opportunities for collaborative research networks and scholarship ventures for our faculty. Finally, as an interdisciplinary enterprise, the Center will provide opportunities to strengthen the University's undergraduate and graduate curriculums.
Goal 1 – Enhance student enrollment, improve student life and engagement, and improve student advising and career development.
Research has shown that many students fail to understand basic financial concepts and that many, as a result, are either directly forced to withdraw from college or are unable to concentrate on their studies due to financial strain. The activities of the proposed Center, teaching financial management skills, helping students to build a realistic budget, and educating students on the importance of building credit to secure their financial future, will decrease this deficiency, boost retention and graduation rates, and increase student knowledge.