Jacob Range, a first-year student at UW-River Falls, participates in the Go Big or Go Broke® interactive board game at the university on Dec. 4. As part of an effort to promote financial literacy, Royal Credit Union visited the university’s School of Business and Economics to familiarize first-year students with their career field and academic success strategies. UWRF photo. 

Royal Credit Union partners with School of Business and Economics for interactive financial literacy game 

Dec. 12, 2024 - University of Wisconsin-River Falls School of Business and Economics (SBE) students used an interactive board game to learn more about their business-related careers.
  
Students enrolled in SBE, part of the College of Education, Business and Allied Health (CEBAH), welcomed Royal Credit Union (Royal) to their First-Year Seminar class Dec. 4-5 for a firsthand experience in financial literacy. Through the Go Big or Go Broke® life-sized board game, students gained essential financial education in an engaging and entertaining way.
 
The First-Year Seminar course is specifically for SBE students in their first year at UWRF. The course helps students explore their strengths, identify success strategies, develop academic plans and investigate different business majors and career paths.
 
Go Big or Go Broke® is a signature initiative by Royal designed to empower college students with practical financial knowledge. Acting as their own game pieces, participants navigated a giant board filled with real-life financial scenarios, trivia and challenges that tested their decision-making skills. From unexpected detours like the Money Pit and Credit Chaos Corner portions of the game to questions about budgeting, saving and credit management, students learned valuable lessons applicable to their current and future financial journeys.
 
The object of the game was simple: earn the most money while expanding financial knowledge. The grand prize winner took home a gift card, while all participants celebrated their achievements with a trip to the swag shop to spend their earnings.
 
CEBAH Dean Muhammad Chishty emphasized the importance of experiential learning. 

“Bringing financial literacy into the classroom in such a dynamic way engages our students and makes complex concepts accessible and memorable,” he said. “We’re grateful for Royal Credit Union’s partnership in preparing our students for lifelong success.”
 
“At Royal Credit Union, we’re passionate about bringing financial education to life in exciting and innovative ways,” said Deb Paulsen, community financial education coordinator at Royal. “We’re proud to partner with UWRF to help students build essential financial skills they can carry with them throughout their lives.”
 
The event is part of UWRF’s broader commitment to equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed for personal and professional growth. By collaborating with partners like Royal, the college continues to provide innovative and impactful learning experiences.

For more information about the UWRF School of Business and Economics, visit www.uwrf.edu/academics/school-business-and-economics or call 715-425-3774.