College Thriving Act

# College Thriving Act Summary **What the Bill Does:** The College Thriving Act would have the Department of Education provide grants to colleges and universities to create special "skills-for-success" courses for all first-year students. These courses would teach practical life skills like time management, stress management, and goal-setting in small classroom settings with low student-to-teacher ratios. The courses would be graded on a pass-fail basis rather than traditional letter grades, focusing on student development rather than performance evaluation. **Who It Affects and Key Details:** The bill would primarily benefit first-year college students, including transfer students, by providing them with foundational skills to succeed academically.

Colleges that serve lower-income students would receive priority for grant funding—specifically, schools where at least half their students qualify for federal Pell Grants (need-based financial aid for low-income students). This targets support toward institutions serving economically disadvantaged populations. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives and is currently under review in committee. It has not yet been voted on by the full House or Senate, so it remains in the early stages of the legislative process.