VSU Awarded SCHEV Grant To Boost Artificial Intelligence In Higher Ed

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) awarded $250,000 to a team of public higher education institutions to improve Artificial Intelligence (AI) instruction at community colleges and four-year institutions and to create resources for use by others.

A team led by Virginia State University (VSU) and including Northern Virginia Community College and Brightpoint Community College received a 30-month, $250,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Fund for Excellence and Innovation.

The team’s proposed project has several goals:

  1. Increase AI instruction for high-school students in dual-enrollment courses.
  2. Increase AI instruction for community college students who are on track to transfer to a four-year institution.
  3. Create AI oriented micro-credential programs, which will offer a series of certificates or credentials that build on each other to help students advance in their professional careers.
  4. Develop AI focused open education resources for use by students and educators at other higher education institutions.

"I'm thrilled to see this partnership of Virginia institutions continuing to lead the way in application of artificial intelligence to innovate and improve student outcomes," said Scott Fleming, SCHEV director. "The work by the VSU-led team will help other Virginia higher ed institutions incorporate AI into their efforts to build Virginia’s workforce of tomorrow."

"Virginia State University is proud to receive this grant, which will allow us to invest in the future of AI education. This funding underscores our commitment to advancing artificial intelligence research and instruction, ensuring that VSU remains at the forefront of transformative education and workforce development," said Makola M. Abdullah, VSU president.

The Fund for Excellence and Innovation was established by the General Assembly in 2016 to stimulate collaboration among public school divisions, community colleges and public universities; expand affordable education; and reduce costs. In 2024, SCHEV began using the fund to expand AI instruction and address issues identified in Governor Youngkin's Executive Directive Number 5 and subsequent Executive Order Number 30.

(Submitted by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia)