Enhance Exposure of Your Default Prevention Efforts
By Dennis Zanchi, EDFUND Default Prevention Initiatives Specialist

In most financial aid offices, the focus on maintaining a low cohort default rate strongly emphasizes preventive measures – communicating with students early and often about the importance of student loan repayment. But even in an office where default prevention programs are well developed, it can be a challenge to continually get the word out to borrowers. Think of default prevention as a vital marketing project, and consider these marketing strategies for disseminating your default prevention message.

Update Your Web Site
Keeping your Web site up-to-date with fresh ideas, graphics and information gives students a reason to make repeated visits. Providing valuable links to money management topics, listing important deadlines and allowing access to downloadable forms help create a Web environment that serves students on their schedule and at their convenience.

Refine Your Message
Nike says, “Just Do It.” American Express says, “Don’t Leave Home Without It.” What does your school say when it comes to default prevention? Develop a clear message to send to students about their money. From building a spending plan to managing credit wisely and anything in between, it’s important to be sure students hear and see your message frequently. Consider using the ready-to-go postcard and newsletter in EDFUND’s online Debt Management Toolkit (available from our Web site, www.edfund.org) or developing a logo or slogan that conveys your message.

Use Quality Collateral Materials
Planning a money management workshop but don’t know where to start? Need a targeted publication but lack the time to create one? Why re-invent the wheel? From the Schools section of the EDFUND’s Web site, www.edfund.org, you can choose from a wide variety of presentations and publications geared toward educating students about the benefits of wise money management and realistic borrowing. Using new materials will give your efforts a fresh look and, more importantly, send a compelling message to your students and borrowers.

Create New Ways to Communicate
Use intriguing methods of informing students about financial aid services: consider screen savers in computer labs to promote debt management concepts, create money management tips instead of music for students to listen to when they’re put on hold, and think of new ways to use bulletin boards. Be creative ? the possibilities are endless!

Take Advantage of Free Resources
Use the free newsletter templates, postcards, letters, Web site tips, PowerPoint presentations and more in EDFUND’s Debt Management Toolkit, available in the Schools section of our Web site, www.edfund.org. These valuable tools not only save time but can jump start your default prevention efforts.

Don’t Forget the Early Outreach
For your next outreach effort, be sure to include tools designed to spark interest and demonstrate that college is possible for everyone. Videos, booklets and newsletters can all be used to ignite interest. Visit our collection, available by clicking on The Forms and Publications tab from the EDFUND Web site, www.edfund.org for videos that motivate pre-college students to make college happen, understand the FAFSA and plan ahead for their future.

EDFUND also offers other free tools to maximize your outreach efforts, including the Credit for College booklet, designed to address real-world concerns students have about attending college, and Life 101, an annual publication that answers many financial aid questions using an interesting, fun-to-read newspaper format.

Remember, students won’t come asking for a better understanding of debt management – it’s up to you to reinforce those concepts whenever possible. Explore our Debt Management Toolkit for free resources, try some of the ideas mentioned above and continue to add new energy to your default prevention activities.

©2004 Edfund
For more information on Edfund products and services, contact Michael Amaloo, Senior Client Relations Manager at PO Box 566, Kyle, TX 78640 –Telephone: Toll Free 1.866.299.1741 or 512.405.3800 – Fax: 512.405.3801 – mamaloo@edfund.org – www.edfund.org.