The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) awarded $169 million from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) in new grant awards to support the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance teaching and learning, foster civil discourse on college and university campuses, drive reforms to the higher education accreditation system, and build capacity for high-quality, short-term programs. Additionally, the Department made one supplemental award for the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success program.
Following the November 10 competition announcement, the Department received a historic number of applications, which demonstrates a clear institutional desire to support innovation, civility, student success, and institutional accountability.
“The Trump Administration is reenvisioning the future of higher education – ensuring that programs are centered on student success, workforce readiness, and are adaptive to new technology and innovations,” said Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education Dr. David Barker. “From helping grantees foster diverse viewpoints on campus to supporting colleges and universities build innovative new programs and cut red tape, we are confident that these funds will help institutions build on this Administration’s success and support students throughout their academic journeys.”
Examples of funded projects and activities include:
- Artificial Intelligence: A community college will enhance teaching and learning by embedding AI tools, AI-supported instructional practices, and AI-related content into high-impact academic programs such as nursing and information technology.
- Civil Discourse: One university will develop new courses on free expression and civil discourse, an undergraduate certification in civic leadership, and several initiatives to bring wide-ranging public debate on campus.
- Accreditation: Funding will support a few emerging accreditors as they prepare to pursue Department recognition and assist multiple universities in changing accreditors.
- Short-Term Programs: One grantee will establish a new Workforce Pell Grant-aligned program to expand technician training in the advanced manufacturing, automation, and battery production sectors.
Background:
FIPSE is a discretionary grant initiative that supports innovative projects to address urgent national needs in postsecondary education. The funds awarded under this specific program competition will empower institutions to develop and scale solutions that improve educational outcomes, strengthen institutional capacity, and align education with workforce demands.
In November, the Department released four priorities to support areas of national need for the FY 2025 competition, including:
- Expanding the use of AI to support projects that enhance teaching, learning, and student success;
- Protecting and promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses to support learning opportunities that include a range of viewpoints and encourage dialogue;
- Encouraging accreditation reform by addressing barriers to switching institutional accreditors and creating new accrediting agencies; and
- Building capacity for high-quality, short-term programs to support the creation and expansion of workforce aligned academic programs eligible for the Workforce Pell Grant program.
Contact:
Press Office | (202) 401-1576 | press@ed.gov