Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2013

by Patrick Oliver D uring my first year as Director of Cedarville’s Criminal Justice program, I reviewed results from an alumni survey. While graduates hadmany positive things to say about their Cedarville experience, they provided helpful critical feedback as well. We asked, “What is something Cedarville University did not do for you that you wish it had?” Two answers tied for the top response to this question. First, graduates indicated they would have desired more help with selecting a major (based on graduates working in fields unrelated to their majors). Second, they indicated they would have benefited from training on how to manage money effectively, saying their academic education never addressed this issue at any level. In response to this 2005 survey, the Criminal Justice program now requires courses in both career planning and personal financial management for every student in the major. Managing your personal finances is an essential life skill, especially important for Christians who believe that “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it” (Ps. 24:1). Effectively stewarding God’s money and possessions enhances our ministry opportunities, self-confidence, marriage relationships, family well-being, and professional stability. In some professions, including many in the criminal justice field, individuals must be free from the potential or influence of corruption based on the need or desire to earnmoney unethically. Job candidates undergo required background investigations, including a credit check, to determine their job suitability. While a compromised credit history should not be the sole reason for being disqualified for a job, it does speak to a candidate’s financial responsibility. Our American educational system does a poor job of teaching students about personal financial management. A student can progress through primary and secondary school, receive an undergraduate degree, and even achieve an advanced degree in higher education without learning this basic life skill. A commission of the National Association of State Boards of Education now recommends that all students in the United States receive comprehensive financial and investor education. The primar y purpos e of an undergraduate degree is to become an educated person. An educated person must be able to demonstrate effective stewardship over God-given resources, and this life skill should be part of his or her academic education. It is not ideal to seek financial management training from those selling a financial product or investment advice because they have a personal stake in the advice they are giving you. Are you experiencing financial problems? If so, how does this affect your work performance, involvement in Christian ministries, and family life? Are you as a professional any more prepared to manage money than other graduates of the American educational system? 28 | Cedarville Magazine