SUNY Westchester Community College Launches Combined Financial Coaching and Finance Education Course in Partnership with Money Smart Financial Coaching Program and Support from JPMorganChase

May 6, 2025
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by SUNY WCC
Certification of Capability in Business Analysis CCBA 935x572 1
Certification of Capability in Business Analysis CCBA 935x572 1

The MSFCP.org approach helps improve student persistence, retention, and access to well-paying jobs after graduation

Valhalla, NY | May 6, 2025 – SUNY Westchester Community College (“SUNY WCC”) announced recently a new financial health course administered by Money Smart Financial Coaching Program (MSFCP.org) with support from JPMorganChase. The non-credit course combines one-on-one financial coaching and education to provide the individualized support students need, including those of under-represented, first-generation, and low-income students. The program, which will be offered every semester, aims to improve student persistence, increase retention, and open new pathways to well-paying jobs after graduation.

“This new course represents a powerful evolution of the original program we developed with the support of JPMorganChase,” said Dr. Belinda Miles, President of SUNY Westchester Community College. “We’re proud to see our model expanded nationally and to continue leading efforts that equip students—especially those historically underserved—with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to take control of their financial futures and thrive beyond the classroom.”

Nine other colleges from across the country now join SUNY WCC in offering the course, either as a credit course for degree-seeking students or a non-credit course designed for adult learners in workforce training programs. Students work one-on-one with a financial coach and receive classroom instruction from a professor with guest lectures from Chase Community Managers—a unique role that does not promote banking products or services, but is singularly focused on providing greater access to banking and helping community members get on a path to financial health and resilience.

“Education is the first step on the pathway to a solid financial future. This program empowers students to take charge of their finances, while driving positive academic, career and personal outcomes,” said Wayne Davis, Chase Community Manager in Mt. Vernon. “The Money Smart Financial Coaching Program represents a new way to provide our neighbors with the knowledge and tools they need — and I am excited to work with the team at SUNY WCC to continue educating, uplifting, and strengthening our community.”

This new program builds on the success of an initiative SUNY WCC created which other schools have successfully adapted through the National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE), all with strategic guidance and funding from JPMorganChase over the last ten years. The latest independent evaluation shows that among MSFCP students nationwide:

  • 35 percent saved over three consecutive months ($2,016 on average).
  • 67 percent achieved at least one financial goal.
  • 27 percent reduced debt ($2,263 on average).
  • 18 percent increased their credit score (52 points on average).
  • 72 percent of First-Time Full-Time two-year college students returned to their school (nine points higher than the national average).
  • 85 percent and 82 percent retention for four-year college students at Long Island University and Winston-Salem State University, respectively.

“I am very excited and humbled to continue this work with the team of dedicated leaders that served the NCWE Money Smart initiative so capably,” said Dr. Christal M. Albrecht, Project Director at MSFCP. “It is equally rewarding that we will continue this work with the devoted and enthusiastic faculty and staff of the ten current participating colleges who have proven their commitment to helping students build healthy financial behaviors.” For more information on the Money Smart Financial Coaching Program course MSFCP.org or contact [email protected] To learn more about how JPMorganChase supports MSFCP.org, read the national announcement here.

About Money Smart Financial Coaching Program (MSFCP)

Students at the City College of New York, Bronx Community College, Medgar Evers College, Long Island University, SUNY Westchester Community College, Rockland Community College, and Fulton Montgomery Community College in New York; Renton Technical College in Washington; Mott Community College in Michigan; and Winston Salem State University in North Carolina began enrolling in MSFCP courses as of January 2025.

Founded in 2024, MSFCP.org is dedicated to scaling financial coaching programs to colleges and universities across the United States. Originally created at SUNY Westchester Community College, the program has been funded by JPMorganChase since 2014 and has demonstrated significant success in increasing retention rates among participants. For more information about the Money Smart Financial Coaching Program and its national expansion, please visit MSFCP.org or contact [email protected].

About SUNY Westchester Community College

SUNY Westchester Community College provides over 20,000 full-time and part-time students with an education taught by award-winning faculty at one of the lowest tuition rates in New York State. The college offers over 65 degree and certificate programs, including innovative programs in such high-demand fields as Cybersecurity, Health Information Technology, Respiratory Therapy, and Digital Filmmaking. The college reflects the rich diversity of its region and was the first SUNY campus to be designated a Hispanic Serving Institution.

About JPMorganChase

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America (“U.S.”), with operations worldwide. JPMorganChase had $4.0 trillion in assets and $345 billion in stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2024. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

To learn more about how JPMorganChase helps improve access to resources for financial health, visit https://www.jpmorganchase.com/impact/financial-health-wealth-creation.