University of Southern Indiana receives $150,000 grant to integrate AI into campus operations and curricula
The University of Southern Indiana secured a $150,000 planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to assess how generative AI can strengthen student learning and better prepare graduates for the workforce. The funding comes through the endowment's Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education initiative.
The grant will support a two-part evaluation. USI will conduct an internal audit of how AI is currently used across its academic programs and operations, then assess external workforce demands by surveying employers and industry partners in southwestern Indiana.
Dr. Shelly Blunt, USI Provost, said the planning effort will help the university "intentionally look at how we integrate AI into our academic programs and learning environments, preparing graduates not just to succeed, but to lead responsibly and ethically in an AI-driven workforce."
What the planning phase will cover
- Internal review of AI-related topics across academic programs
- Assessment of how faculty currently use AI tools in teaching and learning
- Professional development for faculty and staff on emerging AI technologies and applications
- Interdisciplinary collaboration to explore AI's role in teaching, research, and problem-solving
- Evaluation of potential new courses and academic credentials focused on AI
The planning work runs through 2026 and will inform whether USI pursues broader AI initiatives. The university will use findings to determine which new learning experiences could be offered to students and how to strengthen faculty AI fluency across disciplines.
For educators looking to understand how institutions are approaching AI for Education and Generative AI and LLM applications, USI's assessment model offers a practical framework for evaluating institutional readiness and identifying skills gaps.
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