Free Financial Literacy Class in Gallup Offers Support for Economic Health

UNM Gallup is holding a free financial literacy class today, December 6, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Calvin Hall Center Auditorium. The event is listed on the campus events page as a community education opportunity open to both students and local residents, and it arrives amid a slate of semester end programming that includes finals week wellness activities, library scavenger hunts, and holiday performances.

The timing is significant for students facing academic pressure and for residents navigating year end finances. Economic strain is a well documented contributor to stress and poorer health outcomes, and local leaders say community based education can help residents manage household budgets, medical bills, and insurance choices. By situating the class during finals week programming, the branch is linking financial skills with broader student supports aimed at reducing stress and promoting well being.

The session is part of UNM Gallup’s December calendar of events that prioritizes both academic supports and community engagement. Offering the class at no cost removes a common barrier to accessing financial information, and the campus setting may be especially helpful for residents who also need support with transportation and scheduling. Students wrapping up the semester can attend between study sessions, and community members can join without enrollment in a course.

For McKinley County, where economic instability and limited access to services affect many households, free workshops like this serve a public health purpose. Improving financial literacy can influence decisions about preventive care, prescription adherence, and emergency planning, and it can reduce reliance on costly acute services. Community education initiatives are one tool among many needed to promote equity, alongside investments in affordable housing, healthcare access, and job training.

The class is one component of UNM Gallup’s effort this month to support students and the broader community. Residents and students interested in attending can go directly to Calvin Hall Center Auditorium at 9 a.m. today to participate in the free session.