College Thriving Act
This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to award competitive grants to eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) to carry out skills-for-success courses for all enrolled first-year students (including transfer students). Skills-for-success course means a course that (1) has a low student-to-teacher ratio, (2) is not graded or is pass-fail, and (3) provides skills for success in college in specified topics (e.g., time management skills, coping with stress, and goal setting).
In awarding grants, ED must give priority to IHEs where at least 50% of all students enrolled in the most recent academic year were eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1409 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1409
To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program for
skills-for-success courses for all first-year students enrolled at
certain institutions of higher education.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 18, 2025
Mrs. Foushee introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program for
skills-for-success courses for all first-year students enrolled at
certain institutions of higher education.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``College Thriving Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED; APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Grant Program Authorized.--From the amounts available under
section 5, the Secretary of Education shall award grants, on a
competitive basis, to eligible institutions to carry out skills-for-
success courses for all first-year students enrolled at such
institutions.
(b) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary
shall give priority to eligible institutions in which at least 50
percent of all students enrolled during the most recent academic year
were eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant under section 401 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a) for the award year
applicable to such academic year.
(c) Grant Period; Minimum Grant Amount.--
(1) Grant period.--A grant awarded to an eligible
institution under this Act shall be for a 5-year grant period.
(2) Grant amount.--A grant awarded to an eligible
institution under this Act shall be awarded in such an amount
as determined necessary by the Secretary for the institution to
carry out the activities described in section 3.
(d) Application Requirements.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this Act, an eligible institution shall submit an application at
such time, and in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require, which shall include a
(1) description of--
(A) the skills-for-success course that the
institution will develop and implement with the grant;
and
(B) the activities the institution will carry out
under each phase described in section 3(b); and
(2) a request for a specific grant amount, and a
justification for such amount.
(e) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall, upon request,
provide technical assistance to eligible institutions in applying for a
grant under this Act. In providing such technical assistance, the
Secretary shall prioritize eligible institutions described in
subsection (b).
SEC. 3. USES OF FUNDS; REPORT.
(a) In General.--Each eligible institution receiving a grant under
this section shall develop and implement a skills-for-success course by
carrying out the activities listed in each of the 4 phases described in
subsection (b).
(b) Phases for Uses of Funds.--
(1) Preparation phase.--During the first year of the grant
period, the eligible institution shall use such grant to
develop the skills-for-success course and carry out the
necessary preparation activities, which may include--
(A) the promotion of relationship building among
students who have similar dates of enrollment;
(B) identifying and training instructional staff;
(C) obtaining support from faculty, staff, or
institution administration for the curricular
adaptation;
(D) developing infrastructure for implementation,
including obtaining necessary course and syllabus
approvals;
(E) determining how student registration will be
handled;
(F) establishing a course evaluation model; and
(G) designating appropriate classroom space.
(2) Pilot phase.--During the second year of the grant
period, the eligible institution shall use such grant to
implement--
(A) a pilot skills-for-success course; and
(B) a pilot of methods for evaluating the course
that includes an evaluation of the impact of such
course on student behavior and other impacts, such as
observation and solicitation of feedback from course
instructors, students, and identified campus community
leaders.
(3) Implementation.--During the third, fourth, and fifth
years of the grant program, the eligible institution shall use
such grant to--
(A) fully implement the skills-for-success course
that--
(i) is made available for each first-year
student enrolled at the institution, at the
beginning of such students' first term of
enrollment at such institution, to the extent
practicable; and
(ii) incorporates the improvements
identified--
(I) in the case of the third year
of the grant program, during the pilot
skills-for-success course; or
(II) in the case of the fourth and
fifth years of the grant program,
during the evaluation of the course
during the preceding grant year; and
(B) evaluate the full implementation of such course
using the methods identified as being most effective
for such an evaluation--
(i) in the case of the third year of the
grant program, during the pilot skills-for-
success course; or
(ii) in the case of the fourth and fifth
years of the grant program, during the
preceding grant year.
(c) Report.--Each eligible institution that receives a grant under
this Act shall submit to the Secretary a report upon the completion of
the 5-year grant period, which shall include--
(1) an evaluation of the pilot skills-for-success course,
and each of the evaluations completed pursuant to subsection
(b)(3)(B); and
(2) a description of how such grant was used during each
year of the grant period.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Eligible institution.--The term ``eligible
institution'' has the meaning given the term ``institution of
higher education'' in section 101(a) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) and section 102(a)(1)(B) of
such Act (20 U.S.C.1002(a)(1)(B)).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
(3) Skills-for-success course.--The term ``skills-for-
success course'' means a course offered by an eligible
institution for first-year students (including transfer
students) at the beginning of such students' first term of
enrollment at such institution that--
(A) has a low student-to-teacher ratio;
(B) is not graded or is pass-fail; and
(C) provides skills for success in college, and
includes each of the following topics:
(i) Development of connections with campus
partners (academic advisors) or engagement with
campus resources (campus mental health
counselors).
(ii) Mental wellbeing.
(iii) Time management skills.
(iv) Planning and organization skills.
(v) Coping with stress and setbacks.
(vi) Managing conflict and difference.
(vii) Goal setting.
(viii) Building and maintaining healthy
interpersonal relationships.
(ix) Self-care and compassion.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 to carry out
this Act, which shall remain available until expended.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
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