History
2016 marked the tenth anniversary of Common $ense, Georgetown University’s only student-led money management initiative. What began as a pilot Financial Literacy series in 2006, Common $ense: Your Money, Your Future has developed into Georgetown University’s Premier Financial Literacy program.
With the support of The George R. Houston Memorial Fund, the Georgetown University Alumni & Student Federal Credit Union (GUASFCU) and the Office of Student Financial Services, Common $ense has been delivering informative workshops on topics such as budgeting, credit and debt management, loans, investing, taxes, and more. Over the last decade, Common $ense has created dynamic programming that enables students to gain a practical knowledge of personal financial matters.
Mission and Funding
At Common $ense, our mission is to empower Georgetown students with the tools and resources to manage money through innovative workshops and educational programs, and thereby enable them to make effective financial decisions. The hope is for students to apply this knowledge when they leave the hilltop and be able to confidently navigate the myriad challenges of personal finance.
Common $ense is funded by the George R. Houston Memorial fund. Through this endowment, we are able to fund our programming and continue our mission to provide personal finance information to all students at Georgetown University.
George R. Houston Memorial Fund
George R. Houston was an esteemed professor of accounting and served as University Treasurer. His guidance, support, and initial $100,000 deposit helped found the Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union (GUASFCU). Along with the pledge of two anonymous donors and many contributions from credit union alumni, the Financial Literacy Program is endowed as the George R. Houston Memorial Fund. Professor Houston was awarded an honorary degree from Georgetown before his death.