Key Takeaways
- Penn State faculty can now apply for two AI‑focused grant programs administered by the AI Center of Excellence for Teaching and Learning.
- The AI in Institution Microgrant Program offers up to $1,000 to individual faculty for small‑scale generative‑AI integration.
- The Large Course Transformation Grant Program provides up to $50,000 for teams of three or more faculty to redesign courses or programs.
- Between six and ten large‑scale projects will be funded for the 2027‑28 academic year, alongside up to 50 microgrants in the spring semester.
- All proposals must incorporate experiential learning, reimagined assessment, or civic learning alongside AI use.
- Applicants must complete the AI Essentials at Penn State training and secure their unit head’s endorsement to be eligible.
- Funds may cover course buyouts, software subscriptions, materials, student‑assistant support, and professional development tied to the project.
- The grants align with Penn State’s broader AI Transformation Initiative, a human‑centered approach emphasizing student literacy, employee skill‑building, and research.
Introduction
Penn State announced on September 30 that faculty members can now seek financial support to embed artificial intelligence into their teaching practices through two newly launched grant opportunities. The initiative, spearheaded by the AI Center of Excellence for Teaching and Learning, reflects the university’s commitment to fostering innovative, responsible AI use across campuses. As the official statement notes, “Penn State faculty can now apply for two grants from the AI Center of Excellence for Teaching and Learning designed to support integrating artificial intelligence into teaching and learning.” This move positions Penn State at the forefront of higher‑education AI adoption, aiming to empower educators while safeguarding academic integrity.
Overview of the AI Center of Excellence
The AI Center of Excellence for Teaching and Learning serves as a hub for advancing AI literacy and facilitating practical implementation for students, faculty, and staff. Its mission encompasses three core activities: developing AI literacy training, supporting the deployment of AI tools across the university, and nurturing faculty‑led curricular innovation. By centralizing these efforts, the center aims to ensure that AI adoption is thoughtful, equitable, and aligned with institutional goals. The center’s work directly informs the structure and expectations of the two grant programs, which are designed to translate its strategic vision into tangible classroom improvements.
AI in Institution Microgrant Program Details
Targeting individual instructors, the AI in Institution Microgrant Program supports small‑scale experiments with generative AI. Each award provides up to $1,000 to cover expenses such as software licenses, modest course material updates, or short‑term student‑assistant help. The program anticipates funding up to 50 grants during the upcoming spring semester, encouraging a wide breadth of experimentation across disciplines. As the university description states, “The AI in Institution Microgrant Program supports small‑scale integration of generative AI for individuals and offers awards of up to $1,000 to individual faculty members.” This lower‑threshold option enables faculty to test AI applications without committing extensive resources.
Large Course Transformation Grant Program Details
For more ambitious endeavors, the Large Course Transformation Grant Program backs team‑based projects that seek to revamp entire courses or academic programs. Teams of three or more faculty members can request up to $50,000 to support comprehensive redesigns that incorporate AI alongside experiential learning, revised assessment strategies, or civic‑engagement components. The program expects to fund between six and ten projects for the 2027‑28 academic year, reflecting a sizable investment in systemic change. The announcement explains, “The Program or Large Course Transformation Grant Program is intended for team‑based efforts at the course or program level. The program offers awards of up to $50,000, available for teams of three or more faculty members.”
Funding Scale and Timeline
The dual‑track approach allows Penn State to nurture both quick‑win pilots and longer‑term transformations. The microgrant stream’s target of 50 awards in the spring semester provides rapid feedback loops, while the larger‑scale grants, slated for the 2027‑28 academic year, give teams ample time to develop, implement, and evaluate substantial curriculum overhauls. This staggered timeline ensures that lessons learned from microgrants can inform the design of larger projects, fostering a culture of iterative improvement across the institution.
Alignment with Penn State’s AI Transformation Initiative
Both grant programs are expressly linked to Penn State’s overarching AI Transformation Initiative, which the university characterizes as a “human‑centered vision for artificial intelligence with student learning and literacy, employee skill‑building and research central to the university‑wide approach.” By tying the grants to this initiative, Penn State ensures that AI integration is not pursued for technological novelty alone but is measured against outcomes that enhance student comprehension, foster faculty competence, and advance scholarly inquiry. The initiative’s emphasis on a human‑centric framework underlines the university’s resolve to balance innovation with ethical considerations.
Permissible Uses of Grant Funds
Recipients may allocate grant money toward a variety of directly related expenses. Allowable uses include course buyouts that free faculty time for project work, subscriptions to AI‑powered software or platforms, procurement of specialized course materials, hiring of student assistants to support implementation, and participation in professional‑development activities such as workshops or conferences focused on AI in education. This flexibility acknowledges that successful AI integration often requires both technological and pedagogical investments, and it empowers proposers to tailor budgets to their specific project needs.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for either grant, faculty must first complete the AI Essentials at Penn State training—a foundational module designed to ensure a baseline understanding of AI concepts, ethical considerations, and practical applications. Additionally, applicants must obtain the explicit endorsement of their unit head (e.g., department chair or school director), confirming that the proposed project aligns with departmental goals and has the necessary administrative backing. These prerequisites aim to safeguard that funded initiatives are well‑conceived, responsibly executed, and supported by the faculty’s home unit.
Emphasis on Experiential Learning, Assessment, and Civic Learning
A distinctive feature of both programs is the requirement that AI integration be coupled with one of three pedagogical enhancements: experiential learning, reimagined assessment, or civic learning. This stipulation encourages faculty to move beyond mere tool adoption and to consider how AI can enrich hands‑on experiences, transform how student achievement is measured, or connect classroom content to broader community engagement. By mandating these complementary elements, Penn State seeks to ensure that AI serves as a catalyst for deeper, more meaningful learning rather than a superficial add‑on.
Closing Note and Author Bio
The announcement was reported by Joni, a first‑year student majoring in broadcast journalism with a minor in political science. When she’s not covering campus developments, Joni can be found record‑shopping, savoring coffee, or grabbing a bagel at Irving’s. Readers wishing to share feedback or bagel‑order recommendations may reach her at [email protected], follow her on Instagram @jonimarieeee, or connect via X (formerly Twitter) @JoniMarieStuch. Her fresh perspective captures the student voice that Penn State hopes to amplify through its AI‑focused teaching initiatives.
Penn State Announces New Artificial Intelligence Grants For Faculty