Santa Fe College awarded $3M federal grant to advance AI education
Santa Fe College announced that it has received a $3 million federal grant that will last five years. The grant is part of the Title III Strengthening Institutions Program and comes from the U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education.
According to a news release from Santa Fe College, the money will help create an AI Institute and Learning Lab. This center will bring together efforts to teach people about artificial intelligence (AI), train faculty, improve courses, set rules for AI use and help guide the college's future plans.
“This grant will allow SF to build a coordinated, college-wide approach to artificial intelligence that supports student success, workforce readiness, responsible AI use, faculty development, and institutional governance,” Santa Fe College President Paul Broadie II said in the news release. “It is a significant investment in Santa Fe’s long-term capacity to lead responsibly in the use of AI across teaching and learning.”
Santa Fe College said the grant supports two main goals in its 2030 Strategic Plan: Future Focused and Student Driven. The project will also work alongside the college's Center for Teaching, Learning and Excellence (CTLE). This center helps faculty improve their skills and provides a community where they can learn from one another.
According to the news release, the college will update about 1,700 square feet of existing space on its Northwest Campus to create the Learning Lab. The space will include an AI learning lab for students, an area where faculty can develop their professional skills, and a place to demonstrate AI tools. The project will also provide new teaching technology and equipment, including AI learning platforms, laptops for students and faculty, and audio and video equipment.
“To help them be ready for whatever comes next, our students can expect to develop AI literacy and critical thinking skills, and to understand and value ethical and responsible AI use and academic integrity,” Broadie said. “They will be prepared for the workforce and transfer.”
The college also said it will create an AI Faculty Development Academy. Other plans include groups where faculty can learn together, coaching to improve teaching, course updates and teaching materials about AI.
According to the news release, the project is intended to help students across Santa Fe College's service area and beyond. This includes students who study at rural centers or take classes online.
The new grant follows a grant funded by NASA. Santa Fe College said that earlier funding has helped it become a provider of AI instruction for faculty across the Florida College System. This work is part of a long-term national partnership to create a framework for deciding whether autonomous aviation safety systems can be trusted.
The Strengthening Institutions Program grant runs from Oct. 1, 2026, to Sept. 30, 2031. According to the college, less than $1 million will be provided at the start. The grant can be renewed, depending on the amount of money approved each year and how well the project performs.