Sinclair Community College is giving students the opportunity to seek financial counseling on campus — free of charge.
The counseling is offered through Consumer Credit Counseling Services as of last May. The services offered include general financial counseling among other tools.
“We do financial counseling in general, such as debt management if that is something that is needed,” Dolly Warren, a certified credit counselor said. “We give them options and tools, advice and guidance of where they can go for general credit information and for options on how their life is going and what they would need to succeed in the credit world.”
The office is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays only and to take advantage of this service, students should call (937) 534-7900 and make an appointment at the Dayton campus or at the main office.
Upon calling, they will be asked to briefly describe what they need to speak with the counselor about. The receptionist will then set an appropriate type of appointment with either Warren or Lisa Roberts. During the appointment, the student and counselor will assist the student with what ever is needed. The appointment type will determine what exactly will happen during the meeting. Regardless, appointments are handled in a confidential manner.
“Whatever their particular goal is, is what our aim is,” Warren said. “When you first come in to talk to us, we’re going to sit and have more of a conversation than anything, because the questions we’re going to ask you are just to determine what your goal is, where you’re at financially, how we, Consumer Credit Counseling, can help you. So we’re going to sit down and have a conversation, one-on-one.”
The office is located on the fourth floor of Building 10 in room 424
“The data that we look at talks about why students drop out and one of the biggest things that impacts students is personal financial difficulties,” Student Success Coordinator Peter Bolmida said. “A thing like a flat tire can take a student out of school. You have a flat tire, you don’t have a spare and you have to call a tow truck and you need a new tire and … it’s $600 and you’re out of school. So we’ve been trying to find a way to get this kind of expertise on campus … so that students would have the opportunity to work with an expert.”
For those who may feel too intimidated to make an appointment, Warren reassures that the counselors are not there to judge those who are in need.
“There is no one that is going to incriminate or have a judgment upon you for coming into our office,” she said. “It’s a pretty private setting, no one has to know that you’re there, so I would just say it’s an open door for anyone who wants to come in for a private solution to any problems that they have financially.”
In addition, she said at the main office, they see people of all economic levels come in for assistance.
“My goal was looking at the reasons why students drop out or students aren’t successful, a lot of it is personal financial issues and we really need to have someone here with that expertise to work with students, and that’s what they provide,” Bolmida said.