Our Purpose:

In 2005, Harris Interactive conducted The Standards in Economics Survey on behalf of the National Council on Economic Education (NCEE), which was designed to evaluate adult and student understanding of basic economics as well as the perceived importance of understanding basic concepts in economics. Adults and students were given a 24 question quiz in economics and personal finance. It was found that "six in ten high school students and more than one-quarter of adults get a failing grade on the Economics Quiz". Additionally, "more than nine in ten adults and students believe that it is important for the people of the United States to have a good understanding of economics. Virtually all adults believe that economics should be included in high school education. However, only half of high school students say they have ever been taught economics in school."

The results of the above survey indicate that economics is believed to be an important subject that is often lacking in the education of young adults. This year, Western Washington University's chapter of Beta Alpha Psi (BAP), an international honorary organization for Financial Information students and professionals, is going to make a difference.

The National Council of Beta Alpha Psi has given each chapter a challenge: to "engage in a successful project to increase the financial literacy of high school and/or college students in your community." In order to accomplish this task, we will be hosting six seminars to teach financial literacy to Western Washington University and community college students. We will also be going into local high school classrooms to teach financial material to the students. Our goal is to reach as many high school and college students as possible with this important information. We want this program to have a great impact on the community of young adults in Bellingham and the surrounding areas. We hope students will come to recognize that the decisions they make today in their personal finances have a large impact on their future wealth.