Central Georgia Technical College secures $3.9M to scale AI teaching and student support
Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) has been awarded $3.9 million from the U.S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) to expand AI-driven learning and support across high-impact programs.
The investment backs CGTC's new Strengthening Technical Education Programs through Artificial Intelligence (STEP-AI) initiative, with a focus on practical tools for students and faculty development across disciplines.
What the STEP-AI funding covers
CGTC will integrate AI tools, AI-supported instructional practices, and AI-related content into technician education pathways and student services.
"Our Strengthening Technical Education Programs through Artificial Intelligence (STEP-AI) award will advance the understanding and use of artificial intelligence in education through a two-pronged approach: expanding the utilization of generative AI to enhance tutoring, advising, and college/career navigation for undergraduate students, while integrating machine learning into technician education pathways," said Dr. Deborah Burks, Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness at CGTC.
The program will support traditional and dual-enrolled high school students. It will also provide structured professional development for faculty to implement and sustain AI use across courses.
24/7 academic support, with guardrails
Allison Repzynski, Executive Director for Library & Academic Support and the grant's project director, noted the program will offer on-demand learning help. "The platform it supports is monitored and secure, meaning students can interact with the latest in generative AI technology to simultaneously hone their AI skills and master their coursework," she said.
Why this matters for educators
- Student services: Always-on tutoring and advising can reduce wait times and extend support beyond business hours.
- Instruction: Machine learning concepts will be embedded into technician programs, aligning coursework with real job skills.
- Faculty capacity: Dedicated training helps instructors adopt AI safely, ethically, and effectively.
- Access: Dual-enrolled students gain earlier exposure to AI practices used in college and industry.
Action steps for your campus
- Identify 2-3 high-enrollment courses for AI-supported tutoring pilots and define success metrics (usage, satisfaction, pass rates).
- Build a short faculty PD track that covers AI use cases, prompt quality, bias awareness, academic integrity, and assessment design.
- Align with IT and compliance on data privacy, model selection, content filters, and audit trails.
- Update syllabi and student policies to clarify permitted AI use and citation expectations.
- Track outcomes by student group (including dual enrollment) to ensure equitable impact.
The bigger picture
This award is part of $169 million distributed to higher education institutions nationwide to advance AI in teaching and learning. For context on program goals and eligible activities, see the Department of Education's FIPSE overview.
Want structured upskilling paths?
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