[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9824 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9824
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
September 25, 2024
Mrs. Foushee (for herself, Ms. Adams, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, and Ms.
Ross) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the 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.--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 that are historically
Black colleges and universities.
(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) Minimum grant amount.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), a
grant under this Act shall be awarded in an amount of
$1,000,000 for the 5-year grant period for such grant.
(B) Ratable increases or decreases.--The amount
specified in subparagraph (A) shall be ratably
increased or decreased to the extent that funds
available under section 5 exceed or are less than
(respectively) the amount required to provide the
amounts specified in subparagraph (A).
(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 description of--
(1) the skills-for-success course that the institution will
develop and implement with the grant; and
(2) the activities the institution will carry out under
each phase described in section 3(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) identifying and training instructional staff;
(B) obtaining support from faculty, staff, or
institution administration for the curricular
adaptation;
(C) developing infrastructure for implementation,
including obtaining necessary course and syllabus
approvals;
(D) determining how student registration will be
handled;
(E) establishing a course evaluation model; and
(F) 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 pilot skills-for-success course, which shall
include the piloting of methods for evaluating the course, 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 fully implement the skills-for-success course,
which--
(A) incorporates the improvements identified during
the pilot skills-for-success course during the second
year of the grant period; and
(B) 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.
(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 the skills-for-success course implemented during the third
through fifth years of the grant period; 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) Historically black colleges and universities.--The term
``historically Black colleges and universities'' has the
meaning given the term ``part B institution'' in section 322 of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061)).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
(4) 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 well-being.
(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.
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