Davenport University has been awarded a $3 million Strengthening Institutions Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education to prepare students for an AI-enabled workforce and expand academic, technology, and student-success programs across the university.
The five-year initiative, called STAR: Strengthening Through Advanced Resources, will receive $600,000 annually beginning October 1, 2026, and continuing through September 30, 2031. Davenport said the program is expected to affect more than 4,000 students and directly support its Vision 2030 strategic plan.
STAR will focus on three areas of institutional transformation: academic programs and career readiness, student-success systems and support, and faculty and staff capacity.
As part of the initiative, Davenport plans to work with employers and its Workforce Advisory Boards to identify the artificial intelligence skills needed across different professions. Those findings will be used to inform academic programs and help the university expand AI-focused certificates, micro-credentials, digital badges, and experiential learning opportunities.
The university also plans to create additional ways for students to demonstrate AI-related competencies to potential employers.
Another component of the program will focus on Davenport’s technology and student-support infrastructure. A more connected IT environment is expected to expand the university’s use of data, predictive analytics, and AI-enabled tools across advising, academic planning, tutoring, and coaching.
Davenport said the objective is to use technology to enhance rather than replace personal interaction. For example, AI-enabled tools could help faculty and staff identify students who may require additional assistance earlier, creating more opportunities for direct support.
The initiative will also establish the STAR AI Faculty Fellows Program, which is intended to develop faculty expertise and create a framework for integrating AI into teaching and learning. Participating faculty will be able to develop and share practices that can be implemented across the university.
Responsible AI use will be incorporated throughout STAR. Davenport plans to establish university-wide guidelines addressing privacy, transparency, academic integrity, fairness, and human-centered decision-making.
Executive Vice President for Academics and Provost Gilda Gely, Ph.D., will serve as principal investigator and provide academic and institutional leadership for the five-year project.
Davenport said the initiative is intended to create changes that extend beyond the federal grant period, with successful programs and systems developed through STAR eventually becoming part of the university’s ongoing operations.
KEY QUOTES:
“Artificial intelligence is changing nearly every profession, and Davenport has a responsibility to ensure our graduates are ready to lead now and in the future. Our Vision 2030 plan calls for AI to be integrated across our academic programs because we understand that knowing how to use AI ethically and resourcefully is essential to our students’ success. This investment allows us to accelerate the work of updating curriculum, supporting our students and providing Michigan employers with the skilled employees they need.”
Anthony W. Anderson, Interim President Of Davenport University
“What makes this opportunity so exciting is that it reaches across the university and throughout the student experience. We’ll be working directly with employers to understand the AI competencies they need, bringing those skills into our academic programs and giving students opportunities to demonstrate what they know. We’ll also be able to invest in technology, faculty and staff development and student-success tools. This grant will make immediate changes and benefit Davenport students for years to come.”
“STAR is intended to create lasting institutional change. Successful strategies we develop during the five-year grant period will become part of our operations, so the work continues after the federal funding period ends.”
Gilda Gely, Ph.D., Executive Vice President For Academics And Provost Of Davenport University
