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The First Annual SFS Outreach Fair

by Kyra Worrell

The Student Fiscal Services (SFS) Outreach Fair was held in the University of Washington Club (formerly the Faculty Club) on May 4th, 2005. There were six tables, each representing a unique aspect of SFS Outreach or SFS at large: Information Packets, Tax workshops and Student Database training; SFS Receivables, Tuition Forfeiture and E-billing; “Managing the Maze” workshop; and the ever popular "Money 101 & 102" workshops. People from campus departments, Financial Management and even students came to browse the booths. SFS staff and leaders from all units were at the fair to answer questions and give a general overview of SFS services. Visitors were encouraged to make appointments to meet with Outreach staff to learn more about SFS services and to sign up for workshops.

Reaching out to departments, students and the community at large has always been the goal of the SFS Outreach unit. This goal is in line with FM’s strategic mapping initiative, by providing tools and information for customers to manage their own departments and by developing relationships with strategic partners (i.e. the departments on campus). SFS Outreach works closely with UW departments in order to get accurate information about SFS out to the students in these departments.

SFS now reaches most UW students (including all incoming freshmen) with presentations and/or written material about SFS services. However, the SFS Outreach unit will not rest until they are able to reach all departments on campus, as well. To achieve that end, Outreach has hosted an open house every year for the past three years (including this one) to advertise the services they offer. The Outreach Fair is yet another method to reach out to the UW departments with whom Outreach does not currently have a working relationship. The idea behind the fair was to make Outreach more accessible to departments that chose not to make the trek all the way to Schmitz Hall for the Outreach Open House. Departments from all over campus were invited to visit.

The response from people who attended was overwhelmingly positive. It looks like Outreach will be making this another annual event!