MU bankruptcy counseling is certified

The MU Office for Financial Success has become the first university-based program in the United States certified by the U.S. Trustee’s Office to offer financial counseling services to those considering bankruptcy.

Mark Oleson, director of the Office for Financial Success and head of the counseling program, expects demands for the center’s services to increase, as federal law requires counseling for those considering filing for bankruptcy.

Revenue generated from service fees will be used to expand the student involvement in the office, which offers credit toward degree programs such as financial planning.

Sam Miller, an MU senior and a student volunteer at the Office for Financial Success, said the program is “the best educational tool I could possibly have.”

According to the Federal Reserve, the number of personal bankruptcy filings in the U.S. increased nearly 350 percent between 1980 and 2005.

The Bankruptcy Counseling Center is in 61 Stanley Hall. For more information, call 882-2173.