Santa Fe College Wins $3 Million Federal Grant to Build an AI Institute and Learning Lab
Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida, announced on October 19 that it has been awarded a $3 million, five-year Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant from the U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education to advance artificial intelligence education across the college.
"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," said Santa Fe College President Paul Broadie II, calling it a significant investment in the college's long-term capacity to lead responsibly in the use of AI across teaching and learning.
Anchoring the work is the development of an AI Institute and Learning Lab, a centralized home for AI literacy, faculty development, curriculum innovation, governance and institutional planning, complementing the college's Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence.
Approximately 1,700 square feet of existing space on the Northwest Campus will be renovated to create the Learning Lab, which will include a student AI learning lab, a faculty professional development area and an AI demonstration space. The grant also supports new instructional technology and infrastructure, including AI instructional platforms, laptops for student and faculty use, and audiovisual equipment.
Faculty development is a major focus: the college will establish an AI Faculty Development Academy, along with faculty learning communities, instructional coaching, course redesign and AI teaching resources. The initiative is designed to benefit students throughout the college's service district and beyond, including students at rural centers and online.
The Strengthening Institutions Program award runs from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2031. It includes just under $1 million upfront and is renewable, dependent on annual appropriations and project performance. The award follows a NASA-funded grant that has positioned Santa Fe College as the provider of AI instruction to faculty across the Florida College System.
Santa Fe College official announcement
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 圣菲学院官方发布所配超级智能学习实验室图片。圣菲学院新闻室，2026年10月19日。 / AI learning lab image published with Santa Fe College's announcement. Santa Fe College newsroom, October 19, 2026.
