IGrad

iGrad is a website that was founded by a group of former financial aid professionals [1] in January 2009 to provide tools and online content for college students and recent college graduates. iGrad also administers Entrance and Exit loan counseling [2] for students with federal student loans.[3]

Sponsored Events

On April 28, 2010, iGrad sponsored a roundtable on higher education and online degrees at the University of California, San Diego.[4]

Publications

To further investigate the effectiveness of financial literacy programs at higher education institutions, iGrad surveyed nearly 300 college administrators. The survey results, which were published in the fall of 2014, indicate that students who are exposed to financial literacy curriculum on campus are more likely to practice responsible student loan borrowing and borrow less than the maximum amount of their financial aid award. [5]

College Partners

Kaplan higher education institutions, including Kaplan Higher Education Campuses and Kaplan University's ground campuses, partnered with iGrad in September 2012 to promote financial literacy and student loan education to new and current Kaplan students.[6] The iGrad Financial Literacy Platform includes customized educational modules covering topics such as credit cards, budgeting, identity theft and many others.

The University of Phoenix partnered with iGrad in December 2012 "to help current and prospective students understand their financial situations and how to afford an education."[7]

Michigan State University College of Law uses prizes to incentivize the completion of iGrad financial literacy modules.[8] MSU Law students can become eligible to win a $250 gift certificate by completing six 30-60 minute financial modules.

University of the Rockies also partnered with iGrad to promote financial literacy and fiscal responsibility, and to offer career planning support.[9]

Partnerships

The Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy has accepted iGrad as a national partner.[10] The Jump$start Coalition is a group of over 150 organizations that share a common mission to improve financial literacy among children and young adults while collaborating with partners to create effective financial education strategies.[11]

Financial Literacy Curriculum

On June 25th, 2014, iGrad announced the release of the much anticipated college level financial literacy curriculum.[12] To develop the curriculum, iGrad partnered with best-selling author Sharon Lechter and Pay Your Family First. The curriculum, is delivered via the flipped classroom method and meets all the requirements set by the Department of Treasury for financial literacy.

On April 15th, 2015, iGrad and the University of Illinois announced the launch of an online certification course training educators on how to teach the topic of financial literacy. [13]

Recognition

In July 2010, iGrad was awarded Discovering Startups' Best-Of Monthly Winner for July.[14]

University Business Magazine named iGrad's Interactive Financial Literacy Platform a Top Product in 2012, 2013, and 2014.[15] "Top Products" were nominated by higher education leaders who use them to operate their institutions more efficiently and enhance students’ experiences, and the University Business editorial team chose the winners from the pool of nominees.[16]

iGrad won an Interactive Media Award in 2013 for the category of "Financial Information." [17] Created by the Interactive Media Council, Inc. (IMC), the Interactive Media Awards™ recognize the highest standards of excellence in website design and development and honor individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievement.[18]

In 2013, iGrad was recognized in the category of best educational product in debt management by the Institute for Financial Literacy.[19] In 2015, iGrad's financial literacy curriculum received the EIFLE Award for Education Program of the Year [20] The EIFLE Awards were established in 2007. Each year, the Institute for Financial Literacy presents EIFLE Awards to individuals and organizations that have shown "exceptional innovation, dedication and commitment to the field of financial literacy education."


The AFCPE (Association for Financial Counseling, Planning and Education) awarded iGrad the Outstanding Consumer Information Award in 2013.[21] The Outstanding Consumer Information Award is given to a publisher of widely distributed educational materials which are innovative and timely with appropriate depth and/or breadth.[22]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Jeff Wendt, "Today's Campus," 08/31/2010, ""Q&A with LaBreche, Rob"", 09/02/2010
  2. ↑ "FinAid", 2010, ""Exit and Entrance Counseling"",08/05/10
  3. ↑ iGrad Inc., "Yahoo Finance," 06/02/10, ""iGrad Launches Website to Assist Recent College Graduates Entering the 'Real World'"", 08/06/10
  4. ↑ Anya Kamenetz, "The Huffington Post," 05/18/10, ""Online Education and the Laying on of Hands"", 08/06/10
  5. ↑ http://www.pr.com/press-release/583785
  6. ↑ http://newsroom.kaplan.edu/press-release/ground-locations/kaplans-higher-education-institutions-add-igrad-promote-financial-lit
  7. ↑ http://www.phoenix.edu/forward/student-life/2012/12/igrad-teaches-personal-finance-lessons.html
  8. ↑ http://www.law.msu.edu/admissions/finaid/finance-guide.html
  9. ↑ http://www.rockies.edu/resources/igrad.htm
  10. ↑ http://www.jumpstart.org/igrad.html
  11. ↑ http://www.jumpstart.org/
  12. ↑ http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/financial-literacy-gets-flipped-as-sharon-lechter-igrad-publish-classroom-curriculum-522712.htm
  13. ↑ http://www.pr.com/press-release/615142
  14. ↑ Discovering Startups, "Discovering Startups," 08/02/10, ""July Best-of Winner: iGrad"", 08/06/10
  15. ↑ http://www.universitybusiness.com/readers-choice-top-products-2014?keys=&items_per_page=40
  16. ↑ http://www.universitybusiness.com/article/higher-ed-leaders-select-most-effective-products-year
  17. ↑ http://www.interactivemediaawards.com/winners/certificate.asp?param=280405&cat=1
  18. ↑ http://www.interactivemediaawards.com/default.asp
  19. ↑ http://eifleawards.org/hall-of-fame/2013-winners/
  20. ↑ http://eifleawards.org/hall-of-fame/2015-winners/
  21. ↑ http://www.nasfaa.org/Login.aspx?redirectURL=WorkArea%2flinkit.aspx%3fLinkIdentifier%3dID%26ItemID%3d17478
  22. ↑ http://www.afcpe.org/membership/awards.php

External links

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