Key Takeaways
- Davenport University received a $3 million Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education to launch the five‑year STAR (Strengthening Through Advanced Resources) initiative.
- STAR directly advances the university’s Vision 2030 strategic plan and will impact more than 4,000 students by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) across curricula, support services, and faculty development.
- The initiative is organized around three pillars: academic programs & career readiness, student‑success systems & support, and faculty & staff capacity.
- Funding of $600,000 per year runs from Oct 1 2026 to Sept 30 2031, with Provost Gilda Gely, Ph.D. serving as principal investigator.
- Partnerships with Michigan employers and Workforce Advisory Boards will shape AI‑focused certificates, micro‑credentials, digital badges, and experiential learning opportunities.
- A more connected IT system will enable data‑driven advising, predictive analytics, and AI‑enabled tools while preserving personal faculty‑student interaction.
- The STAR AI Faculty Fellows Program will build faculty expertise in AI‑infused teaching and create a sustainable framework for sharing best practices.
- Responsible and ethical AI use will be embedded through university‑wide guidelines covering privacy, transparency, academic integrity, fairness, and human‑centered decision‑making.
- Successful strategies developed during the grant period are intended to become institutionalized, ensuring lasting impact beyond the federal funding window.
Grant Award Supports Vision 2030 and Student Success
Davenport University was awarded a $3 million Strengthening Institutions Program grant through the U.S. Department of Education. The funding will underpin the STAR: Strengthening Through Advanced Resources initiative, a university‑wide effort that directly advances Davenport’s Vision 2030 strategic plan. As noted by interim President Anthony W. Anderson, “Artificial intelligence is changing nearly every profession, and Davenport has a responsibility to ensure our graduates are ready to lead now and in the future.” The grant is poised to affect more than 4,000 students, aligning curriculum, support services, and faculty development with the demands of an AI‑enabled workforce.
President Anderson Emphasizes AI Readiness for Graduates
Anthony W. Anderson stressed the urgency of preparing students for a rapidly evolving job market. He said, “Our Vision 2030 plan calls for AI to be integrated across our academic programs because we know that knowing how to use AI ethically and resourcefully is essential to our students’ success.” This statement underscores the university’s commitment to embedding AI literacy—not merely as a technical skill but as a core competency that enables graduates to thrive in diverse professional contexts.
STAR Initiative Structured Around Three Transformation Areas
The STAR initiative is organized around three interlocking pillars: academic programs and career readiness, student‑success systems and support, and faculty and staff capacity. Each pillar targets a specific lever of institutional change. By updating curricula to include AI competencies, bolstering advising and support tools, and developing faculty expertise, Davenport aims to create a cohesive ecosystem where students receive relevant instruction, timely assistance, and educators equipped to guide them effectively.
Funding Timeline and Leadership Details Confirmed
The approved project allocates $600,000 per year for five years, commencing October 1, 2026, and concluding September 30, 2031. Executive Vice President for Academics and Provost Gilda Gely, Ph.D. will serve as the principal investigator, providing academic and institutional oversight. Gely highlighted the initiative’s breadth, stating, “What makes this opportunity so exciting is that it reaches across the university and throughout the student experience.” Her leadership will coordinate efforts among academic units, administrative offices, and external partners to ensure coherent implementation.
Provost Gely Outlines Employer Collaboration and Credential Expansion
Gely elaborated on how Davenport will work directly with Michigan employers and its Workforce Advisory Boards to identify the specific AI competencies needed in various professions. The university plans to expand AI‑focused certificates, micro‑credentials, and digital badges, while creating new experiential learning opportunities—such as industry‑sponsored projects and internships—where students can demonstrate their AI proficiency. This employer‑driven approach ensures that credential offerings remain aligned with real‑world workforce needs.
Enhanced IT Infrastructure to Power Data‑Driven Support
A central component of STAR involves building a more connected IT system that will allow the university to expand its use of data, predictive analytics, and AI‑enabled tools in advising, academic planning, tutoring, and coaching. The goal is to use technology to enhance personal interaction, not replace it. By flagging students who may need early intervention, advisors and faculty can devote more time to direct, person‑to‑person engagement focused on student success, thereby improving retention and graduation rates.
Faculty AI Fellows Program to Build Teaching Expertise
To sustain AI integration in the classroom, Davenport will launch the STAR AI Faculty Fellows Program. This initiative will develop faculty expertise in AI applications, provide opportunities for members to integrate AI into teaching and learning, and create a clear, sustainable framework for sharing effective practices across the university. By cultivating a cadre of faculty champions, the program aims to diffuse AI‑enhanced pedagogy throughout all schools and departments, ensuring consistent student exposure to cutting‑edge instructional methods.
Ethical Guidelines Anchor Responsible AI Use
Responsible and ethical AI use is a cornerstone of the STAR initiative. The university will establish university‑wide guidelines addressing privacy, transparency, academic integrity, fairness, and human‑centered decision‑making. These guidelines will inform curriculum design, technology deployment, and faculty training, ensuring that AI tools are employed in ways that respect student rights and promote equitable outcomes. As Anderson implied, knowing how to use AI ethically and resourcefully is as vital as technical proficiency.
Sustainable Impact Intended Beyond Grant Period
Gely concluded that STAR is designed to create lasting institutional change. She noted, “Successful strategies we develop during the five‑year grant period will become part of our operations, so the work continues after the federal funding period ends.” By embedding AI competencies into curricula, support systems, faculty development, and governance policies, Davenport aims to sustain the initiative’s benefits long after the SIP grant expires, continually preparing its graduates for Michigan’s evolving workforce and reinforcing its Vision 2030 aspirations.
Davenport University awarded $3 million federal grant to prepare AI workforce