Enticed at the possibility of winning an iPad, students flocked to the SALT booth set up in Vaughn last week. All students received a global email to their Spartan email address with an activation code inviting them to join the website, but many students admit to hitting the delete button without reading it.
SALT is an informational website designed by the non-profit organization American Student Assistance and is designed to keep students informed about their financial situation and instruct them on how to make sound decisions when it comes to their finances.
Freshman biology major Chardene Williams had already signed up through her Spartan email when she saw the table in Vaughn.
“I wanted to sign up so I could actually see how much money I have in school loans and see if I can do like monthly plans to start paying them off,” Williams said. “I went [to the table] to try and win an iPad and I wanted a cup.”
When a student uses the activation code and signs in to SALT, it automatically knows the students’ loan situation and automatically gives the user tips on how to pay these loans over time in the way that will be most beneficial to their individual situation. Reminders can also be set from this page to notify the user when payments are due so they do not get behind. Navigating around other parts of the site will lead students to informational pages that identify and explain every type of loan possible and tips on the easiest ways to repay them. On the main page of the website, students will find a list of 12 links called “courses” that UT has picked out specially for students here. These courses cover a wide range of topics including picking the right bank, budgeting, identity theft, credit scores, financial aid, loan replacement and much more. Clicking on any of these courses will show that they do resemble online course work. There are lessons and quizzes and a certificate of completion that can be printed out. The courses will also link users to other useful websites like where your credit score could be checked or budgeting calculators can be downloaded. Other interesting features of SALT is a dream job income planner and contact information for people you can call with financial questions.
Junior Kayla Gibson is an allied health major and has already successfully used SALT to access information about her financial situation.
“I think it’s a great way to manage your credit score and within a few hours I was able to access it,” Gibson said. “I think it’s very user friendly and I’m bad with finances so I thought it’d be a way to make myself keep track of them.
Students do not have to pay to use SALT and an individual activation code can be found in your Spartan email.
Mia Glatter can be reached at mia.glatter@spartans.ut.edu.
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