,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #adji ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #ah1 #bjbe,mrs4 ,foushee introduced the following bill2 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 education4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,college ,thriving ,act4 #b4 ,grant program authorized2 application requirements 7a7 ,grant program authorized ,from the amounts available under section #e1 the ,secretary of ,education shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible institutions to carry out skills-for-success courses for all first-year students enrolled at such institutions4 7b7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall give priority to eligible institutions in which at least #ej percent of all students enrolled during the most recent academic year were eligible to receive a ,federal ,pell ,grant under section #dja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj;a7 for the award year applicable to such academic year4 7c7 ,grant period2 ,minimum grant amount 7#a7 ,grant period ,a grant awarded to an eligible institution under this ,act shall be for a #e-year grant period4 7#b7 ,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 #c4 7d7 ,application requirements ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this ,act1 an eligible institution shall submit an application at such time1 and in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 which shall include a 7#a7 description of-- 7,a7 the skills-for-success course that the institution will develop and implement with the grant2 and 7,b7 the activities the institution will carry out under each phase described in section #c7;b72 and 7#b7 a request for a specific grant amount1 and a justification for such amount4 7e7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary shall1 upon request1 provide technical assistance to eligible institutions in applying for a grant under this ,act4 ,in providing such technical assistance1 the ,secretary shall prioritize eligible institutions described in subsection 7b74 #c4 ,uses of funds2 report 7a7 ,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 #d phases described in subsection 7b74 7b7 ,phases for uses of funds 7#a7 ,preparation phase ,during the first year of the grant period1 the eligible institution shall use such grant to develop the skills-for-success course and carry out the necessary preparation activities1 which may include-- 7,a7 the promotion of relationship building among students who have similar dates of enrollment2 7,b7 identifying and training instructional staff2 7,c7 obtaining support from faculty1 staff1 or institution administration for the curricular adaptation2 7,d7 developing infrastructure for implementation1 including obtaining necessary course and syllabus approvals2 7,e7 determining how student registration will be handled2 7,f7 establishing a course evaluation model2 and 7,g7 designating appropriate classroom space4 7#b7 ,pilot phase ,during the second year of the grant period1 the eligible institution shall use such grant to implement-- 7,a7 a pilot skills-for-success course2 and 7,b7 a pilot of methods for evaluating the course that includes an evaluation of the impact of such course on student behavior and other impacts1 such as observation and solicitation of feedback from course instructors1 students1 and identified campus community leaders4 7#c7 ,implementation ,during the third1 fourth1 and fifth years of the grant program1 the eligible institution shall use such grant to-- 7,a7 fully implement the skills-for-success course that-- 7i7 is made available for each first-year student enrolled at the institution1 at the beginning of such students' first term of enrollment at such institution1 to the extent practicable2 and 7ii7 incorporates the improvements identified-- 7,i7 in the case of the third year of the grant program1 during the pilot skills-for-success course2 or 7,,ii7 in the case of the fourth and fifth years of the grant program1 during the evaluation of the course during the preceding grant year2 and 7,b7 evaluate the full implementation of such course using the methods identified as being most effective for such an evaluation-- 7i7 in the case of the third year of the grant program1 during the pilot skills-for-success course2 or 7ii7 in the case of the fourth and fifth years of the grant program1 during the preceding grant year4 7c7 ,report ,each eligible institution that receives a grant under this ,act shall submit to the ,secretary a report upon the completion of the #e-year grant period1 which shall include-- 7#a7 an evaluation of the pilot skills-for-success course1 and each of the evaluations completed pursuant to subsection 7b77#c77;,b72 and 7#b7 a description of how such grant was used during each year of the grant period4 #d4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,eligible institution ,the term eligible institution has the meaning given the term institution of higher education in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a77 and section #ajb7;a77#a77;,b7 of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4#ajjb7;a77#a77;,b774 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,education4 7#c7 ,skills-for-success course ,the term skills-for-success course means a course offered by an eligible institution for first-year students 7including transfer students7 at the beginning of such students' first term of enrollment at such institution that-- 7,a7 has a low student-to-teacher ratio2 7,b7 is not graded or is pass-fail2 and 7,c7 provides skills for success in college1 and includes each of the following topics3 7i7 ,development of connections with campus partners 7academic advisors7 or engagement with campus resources 7campus mental health counselors74 7ii7 ,mental wellbeing4 7iii7 ,time management skills4 7iv7 ,planning and organization skills4 7v7 ,coping with stress and setbacks4 7vi7 ,managing conflict and difference4 7vii7 ,goal setting4 7viii7 ,building and maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships4 7ix7 ,self-care and compassion4 #e4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated #ej1jjj1jjj to carry out this ,act1 which shall remain available until expended4