College Thriving Act

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.

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.

A grant awarded to an eligible institution under this Act shall be for a 5-year grant period.

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.

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.

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).

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)).

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Education.

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.