The College Thriving Act would authorize the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to eligible institutions for skills-for-success courses for all first-year students.
Valerie Foushee
Representative
NC-4
The College Thriving Act aims to improve first-year college student success by providing grants to higher education institutions to develop and implement "skills-for-success" courses. These courses will focus on essential skills such as time management, stress management, and building relationships, with priority given to institutions serving a high percentage of Pell Grant recipients. The Act allocates \$50 million for these grants, which will support institutions over a five-year period to develop, pilot, and fully implement these courses. Institutions will be required to evaluate the effectiveness of their programs and report their findings to the Secretary of Education.
College Thriving Act Kicks Off $50M Program for First-Year Student Success Courses: Pell Grant Schools Get Priority
The "College Thriving Act" greenlights a $50 million grant program to help colleges launch "skills-for-success" courses aimed at all first-year students. Think of it as a college survival toolkit focusing on stuff beyond textbooks – managing your time, dealing with stress, staying organized, setting goals, and even just making friends. The money's there, and it's not going away until it's used (SEC. 5).
Freshman Survival Skills 101
The core of the bill (SEC. 3) is all about getting colleges to build and run these courses. It's not a one-size-fits-all deal – schools get a five-year grant to figure out what works best for their students.
- Year 1: Prep Time: Colleges will design the course, train staff, and get buy-in from the higher-ups. They'll also figure out the nuts and bolts, like where the classes will be held and how to sign students up.
- Year 2: Test Run: A pilot version of the course rolls out. This is where they see what sticks, get feedback, and tweak things. They'll be looking at how the course impacts student behavior.
- Years 3-5: Full Launch: The course becomes available to all incoming freshmen at the start of their first term. Colleges keep checking in to make sure it's actually helping.
Real-World Check
Imagine a student, maybe working a part-time job while juggling classes. This course could help them connect with campus resources, like tutoring or counseling, before things get overwhelming. Or picture a student who's always struggled with deadlines – this could give them the tools to finally get (and stay) organized (SEC. 4). The bill also puts a big emphasis on mental wellbeing and self-care (SEC. 4), which is a welcome change from the usual "sink or swim" approach.
Pell Grant Priority
Schools where at least half the students get Pell Grants (meaning they have significant financial need) jump to the front of the line for this funding (SEC. 2). This makes sense, as these students often face extra hurdles in adjusting to college life. The Secretary of Education will determine the grant amount awarded to each institution based on their need to carry out the activities in section 3 of the Act.
The Fine Print
These "skills-for-success" courses are designed to be low-pressure. We are talking small class sizes, and they're either pass/fail or not graded at all (SEC. 4). At the end of the five-year grant, schools have to report back to the Secretary of Education on how it all went – what worked, what didn't, and how they spent the money (SEC. 3). This means there's some built-in accountability to make sure the program is actually delivering.