Dallas College Secures $3.3M U.S. Department of Education Grant to Launch AI-Enabled Teaching and Learning Initiative

Dallas College Secures $3.3M Federal Grant to Expand AI Education Across Classrooms and Workforce Programs

Jan. 16, 2026 - Dallas

Dallas College has been awarded a four-year, $3.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to launch the Dallas College AI-Enabled Teaching and Learning Initiative. The goal: build AI literacy across disciplines, train faculty to use emerging tools with intention, and connect microcredentials to employer needs.

Leaders say the effort will serve as a national model for responsible, scalable AI adoption in higher education-linking curriculum, faculty development, and workforce training under one coordinated strategy.

"At Dallas College, our mission is to prepare students not just for today's jobs, but for the future of work," said Dr. Justin Lonon, Dallas College chancellor. "This investment allows us to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence and data analytics into teaching and learning, ensuring our students and faculty have the tools to thrive in a digital economy."

The initiative will be administered through Academic Services, with a focus on student AI literacy and faculty support-practical training, resources, and implementation guidance to bring AI into instruction with clarity and ethics.

Senior Vice Provost of Academic Services Greg Morris said the award reflects national confidence in Dallas College's leadership in innovation and workforce readiness. "This AI-Enabled Teaching and Learning Initiative places emerging technologies at the heart of our academic programs," Morris said. "Through our partnership with Workcred, we are aligning education with industry needs and empowering our region to lead in the future of education and work."

Workcred, a national nonprofit founded in 2014, will partner with Dallas College to design, validate, and continuously improve microcredentials that reflect current employer expectations.

What the grant funds

• Faculty development: Training, resources, and implementation support to integrate AI and data analytics into course delivery and assessment.
• Curriculum redesign: Infusion of AI concepts across programs so students in multiple disciplines build practical literacy, not just CS majors.
• Industry-validated microcredentials: Employer-informed credentials developed with Workcred to verify job-relevant skills.
• Workforce training: Short-form learning options that respond to local employer demand and help learners upskill efficiently.

Why this matters for educators

• AI literacy is becoming a baseline expectation across fields-business, healthcare, manufacturing, public service, creative industries, and more.
• Clear instructional strategies help address academic integrity, appropriate use, and assessment in AI-enabled classrooms.
• Microcredentials offer a way to communicate verified skills to employers without overhauling full degree paths.
• Faculty who experiment with AI now can improve feedback cycles, personalize practice, and free time for higher-order work.

How microcredentials will work

• Co-developed with Workcred to ensure quality and employer relevance from day one.
• Mapped to specific, verifiable skills students can demonstrate and share with hiring managers.
• Structured for quick iteration and continuous improvement as tools and practices change.

What you can do now (practical steps)

• Audit one course outcome and add a small AI-supported activity with clear use guidelines.
• Establish an AI policy in your syllabus: what's allowed, what's not, and how to cite AI assistance.
• Pilot an assessment that measures process, not just product (e.g., drafts, reflections, version history).
• Start a faculty working group to share prompts, assignment patterns, and classroom policies that work.
• Engage your advisory board or local employers to define 3-5 verifiable skills that matter this year.

What to watch next

• Faculty training offerings and resource toolkits from Academic Services.
• Announcement of initial microcredentials and participating programs.
• Early classroom pilots that demonstrate measurable gains in student skill development.

For background on federal priorities in this space, see the U.S. Department of Education. Workcred's role in quality and employer validation is detailed at workcred.org.

Bottom line: this grant gives educators time, resources, and validation to integrate AI the right way-grounded in learning outcomes, employer input, and responsible use.