SRP Federal Credit Union will fund a new program named the SRP Pacer $mart Program to cultivate financial success for students at the University of South Carolina Aiken. 

The purpose of the SRP Pacer $mart Program is to enhance training and financial progression. “The goal is to take students from their current financial knowledge to the next level,” said Dr. Nancy Albers, Dean of the School of Business Administration at USCA. “This partnership allows us to develop a co-branded interactive classroom learning environment. The classroom should be complete by the start of the fall semester and supports teaching with technology and experience. We believe it will facilitate learning and retention for lifelong financial wellbeing.”  

“USCA’s School of Business Administration has a proven track record of preparing students for professional success, as well as emphasizing the importance of individuals and businesses focused on having a positive community impact,” said SRP FCU’s CEO Eric Jenkins.

As the former CEO of Education Credit Union in Amarillo, Texas, Jenkins said they partnered with West Texas A&M University to offer a similar program for their students. “I was able to witness first-hand how much value was created for students because of the university and credit union collaborating to provide financial success tools,” he said.

SRP FCU regularly works with members that are in challenging financial situations due to mistakes they made early in adulthood. “Through Pacer $mart, we will help students not only avoid these costly types of financial mistakes, but also teach them how to make the right decisions, which will lead to financial success,” Jenkins said. 

Pacer $mart will also share financial success content with K-12 students through various programming opportunities including dual enrollment. “This is a great opportunity for the School of Business Administration to step in and help deliver this to the local school systems,” Albers said. “I believe this partnership creates an important and timely program that aligns with the School of Business Administration’s initiatives to provide a positive impact on our community.”

In Spring 2024, the School of Business Administration was able to launch a new personal money management course supporting the program. The course objectives are to teach students tools for personal financial success, including short-term plans, such as successfully paying for their education, and long-term plans, such as owning a home and avoiding excessive debt. Students in the course have the opportunity to achieve an Intuit certification in personal finance.