U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) today announced seven new priorities under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) for the Fiscal Year 2025 grant competition, earmarking $167 million for initiatives focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI), civil discourse, accreditation reform, and high-quality short-term programs.

The move, described by Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent as a “transformative shift in higher education,” is designed to align postsecondary institutions with the Trump Administration’s goals of promoting free expression, enhancing workforce readiness, and overhauling the regulatory structure.

A total of $50 million is dedicated to expanding the use of Artificial Intelligence to improve educational outcomes. This funding is split into two priorities:

• Advancing AI to Improve Educational Outcomes of Postsecondary Students: Supports projects that utilize AI to enhance teaching, learning, and student success.
• Ensuring Future Educators and Students Have Foundational Exposure to AI and Computer Science: Focuses on broadening access to AI and expanding computer science course offerings for a new generation of students and teachers.

The largest allocation, $60 million, will fund efforts to promote civil discourse on college and university campuses, aiming to counteract what ED describes as the erosion of free expression.

The single priority, Promoting Civil Discourse on College and University Campuses, will support activities such as seminars, speaker series, conferences, and debates that include a range of viewpoints and encourage respectful deliberation. Under Secretary Kent stated that these initiatives address environments “where free expression has too long been eroded by censorship, harassment, and even violent unrest.”

In an effort to prioritize workforce needs, $50 million is designated for high-quality short-term programs eligible for Workforce Pell Grants under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The two priorities in this area include:

• Creation of New High-Quality Short-Term Programs: Direct support for developing new academic programs that meet the eligibility criteria for the Workforce Pell Grants.
• Expansion of Existing High-Quality Short-Term Programs: Funds to scale up existing short-term programs that are aligning education with in-demand jobs.

A smaller, yet significant, portion of $7 million is dedicated to accreditation reform, seeking to introduce more competition into the system. This reform targets what the Administration views as an archaic and restrictive process. The two priorities are:

• Supporting Institutions in Changing Accrediting Agencies: Provides direct support to colleges and universities hindered by prohibitive costs when attempting to switch their current accrediting agency.
• Supporting the Creation of New Accrediting Agencies: Funds the development and launch of new accrediting agencies, giving institutions greater choice and flexibility.

Under Secretary Kent emphasized that these priorities will “ensure that grantees have the resources needed to build on our Administration’s successes and support initiatives that will continue to enhance the educational experience for all students.”

The Notice Inviting Applications for the FIPSE competition has been published in the Federal Register. The Department of Education expects to make grant awards by December 31, 2025.

READ: Texas Rep. Chip Roy Endorses Byron Donalds For Florida Governor, Citing ‘Fearless America First’ Leadership

Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.

Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.