In an effort to help its students be fiscally accountable, Ohio University Southern is dedicating and entire week to financial responsibility.

Financial Literacy Week kicks of on Sunday and will continue through Feb. 18 on the Ironton campus.

Financial aid and scholarship coordinator, Jacki Adkins, said the event is something she’s tried in the past, and hopes it will become an annual event.

“It’s not technically new but it is something I’ve been wanting to do on a yearly basis. I’m hoping to kick it off this year and continue to do it every year,” she said.

First on the schedule of events is College Goal Sunday. The free, one-day event is held on campuses throughout Ohio to help parents and students fill out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

Adkins said parents or students filling out the forms would be able to complete the entire FAFSA process at OUS on College Goal Day, Feb. 13.

“If they have all the information they need, such as their income for year 2010, such as a tax return, W-2s, they will actually sit at a computer and input their information,” she said. “Hopefully when they leave that day they will have their FAFSA submitted completely.”

Adkins said after meeting in the Bowman Auditorium at 2 p.m., everyone would move to the computer labs to start the process.

On Monday during OU’s Love Your Body event, the financial aid department will have table set up from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to discuss FAFSA forms, credit card do’s and don’ts and how to meet academic standards.

H&R Block will be on campus Tuesday to help students filed their 1040 EZ forms for free. Their services will be available from 10 a.m. to noon and 3 to 5 p.m. in the Ohio Room.

On Wednesday, Ohio University Credit Union will host a series of lectures in the Ohio room. Jillian Debrosse, member education and events specialist at OUCU, will give workshops on “The Importance of Budgeting and the Wise Use of Credit Cards” at 10:30 a.m. and a lunch and learn session called “CreditAbility: Built a Strong Credit History” at 12:30 p.m. with a free lunch provided.

“A lot of people have trouble with budgeting,” Adkins said. “Especially students, because they are not working, they are full time students. They can get in trouble with credit cards because they are trying to supplement their income possibly.”

There will also be a FAFSA workshop at 3 p.m.

On Thursday, Adkins will give a presentation called, “What every OUS student needs to know about financial aid.” She said topics would include keeping track of student loans and interest, repayment plans, satisfactory academic progress and the consequences of withdrawing from classes.

Friday concludes Financial Literacy Week with another FAFSA workshop at 4 p.m. in the learning center.

Students who attend at least one session during the week will be entered into a drawing for door prizes. Prizes will be awarded each day and a grand prize drawing on Friday will earn one student a $100 scholarship for the fall quarter.

“We just want our students to make better financial decisions and know the financial aid opportunities that are out there for them,” said Adkins.