I 
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 edu-
cation. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives 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 RE-
QUIREMENTS. 
(a) GRANT
PROGRAM
AUTHORIZED.—From the 
amounts available under section 5, the Secretary of Edu-
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cation shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligi-
ble institutions to carry out skills-for-success courses for 
all first-year students enrolled at such institutions. 
(b) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible institu-
tions in which at least 50 percent of all students enrolled 
during the most recent academic year were eligible to re-
ceive 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 el-
igible 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 activi-
ties 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 re-
quire, which shall include a 
(1) description of— 
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(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 insti-
tutions in applying for a grant under this Act. In pro-
viding 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 ac-
tivities, which may include— 
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(A) the promotion of relationship building 
among students who have similar dates of en-
rollment; 
(B) identifying and training instructional 
staff; 
(C) obtaining support from faculty, staff, 
or institution administration for the curricular 
adaptation; 
(D) developing infrastructure for imple-
mentation, 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 
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(3) SKILLS-FOR-SUCCESS
COURSE.—The term 
‘‘skills-for-success course’’ means a course offered by 
an eligible institution for first-year students (includ-
ing transfer students) at the beginning of such stu-
dents’ 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 (cam-
pus 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. 
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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. 
Æ 
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