Innovation in AI Grants
April 7, 2025
2025 Grants
The AI Council, Campus Technology Committee, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Office of Faculty Excellence, and Information Technology Services, of the 成人AV视频 (成人AV视频) are pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) from faculty for innovative projects focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in various academic and research domains.
Proposal Submission Deadline: May 7, 2025
Purpose
Guided by 成人AV视频’s AI Strategic Plan, the purpose of the Innovation in AI Grants is to foster integration of Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance pedagogy, student success, course/curricular development, and research/scholarship/creative activities (RSCA). Specifically, the following four distinct grants are offered, each addressing AI for academic excellence:
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AI and Pedagogy Enhancement in 成人AV视频 Classrooms: Seeking proposals that integrate AI to transform teaching methods and learning environments. This includes utilizing AI tools for personalized learning, enhancing interactive learning experiences, or developing AI-driven enhancements to assessment of student learning.
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AI and Student Success at 成人AV视频: Projects that leverage AI to improve student engagement, retention, and academic performance. This may involve AI-driven analytics to identify and support at-risk students, AI in career counseling, or enhancing student services through AI technologies.
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AI Course/Curricular Development: Proposals for creating new AI-focused courses, programs, or digital/certification badges. This can include interdisciplinary courses merging AI with other fields, online course offerings, or new concentrations or majors.
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AI in Research Enhancement: Focuses on how AI can augment research capabilities at 成人AV视频. This includes using AI for data (both quantitative and qualitative) analysis, enhancing research methodologies, AI developments in the arts and humanities, or developing AI-based tools to assist in various research fields.
Funding: Grant recipients will receive $10,000 for the 2025-26 academic year, with funding issued during Summer B, 2025. Four grantnts will be awarded for $10,000 apiece, meaning a total of $40,000 will be awarded across all four grants.
Eligibility
All permanent full-time faculty are eligible to apply, subject to the restrictions below:
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Only permanent full-time faculty are eligible. Grants may be held while on sabbatical; they may not be held while on leave of absence without pay.
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Faculty who intend to terminate employment or leave 成人AV视频, or faculty who are on administrative leave or terminal notice and will not receive a contract during the next academic year, are ineligible. Except in extenuating circumstances, failure to remain at 成人AV视频 for at least one academic year following the award will require grant repayment.
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Members of the Campus Technology Committee may not apply for Innovation in AI Grants.
Timeline
Flowchart Description: Proposal Opens April 7, Proposal Deadline May 7, Recipients Notified May 30, Funds Received July 1.
Proposals for the Academic Year 2025-26 funding round are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Proposals must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on the deadline date. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.
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Proposal Guidelines & Submission
Each proposal must be submitted online via the Innovation in AI Grant Submission Form.
The submission will include the online form at the portal and uploading through the portal of a proposal packet in Adobe PDF format. Please use the last name of the first author of the proposal as the PDF file name. The proposal packet includes the sections listed below, formatted using 1-inch margins and 12-point Times New Roman font. All sections, unless otherwise noted, must be double-spaced. All sections of the proposal must have a footer that includes the proposal title, the name of the first author, and the page number. It is imperative that all sections are submitted as instructed, and that all formatting instructions and page and word limits be followed. Failure to do so will result in the rejection of the proposal.
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Section 1 of PDF file: Proposal Narrative (maximum of 3 pages, double-spaced). Proposal narratives should include a project description, expected outcomes, plan of completion, and relevance to one of the four grant categories.
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Section 2 of PDF file: Timeline and budget with estimated project completion date (1 page). Applicants should obtain pricing estimates or quotes from ITS where appropriate.
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Section 3 of PDF file: Up-to-date curriculum vitae of all involved faculty.
Award Notification and Implementation
Grant awardees will be notified by May 30, 2025, and will receive funding for implementation beginning in the 2025-26 Fiscal Year.
Review Process
A committee of representatives from the AI Council, Campus Technology Committee, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Information Technology Services, and the Office of Faculty Excellence will review submissions, assessing innovation, feasibility, potential impact, alignment with the AI Council’s strategic goals, interdisciplinarity, and clarity and organization.
Proposals must be submitted by May 7, 2025. Grant awardees will be notified by May 30, 2025, and will receive funding for implementation in Summer 2025.
Deliverables
Every recipient is expected to submit their results to the if their work is related to teaching. Rrecipients may be requested to provide an elevator pitch overview during an AI Council meeting during the 2025-26 academic year. Lastly, each recipient will deliver a public presentation of their project results at the 成人AV视频 AI Symposium in coordination with the AI Council and Office of Faculty Excellence.
Contact Information
For inquiries, contact Amanda Kulp at amanda.kulp@unf.edu
The 成人AV视频 is eager to support cutting-edge AI initiatives that advance our educational and scholarship missions. We look forward to your creative and impactful proposals!
Proposal Review Rubric
This rubric evaluates proposals for the Innovation in AI Grants based on six key criteria: Innovation, Feasibility, Potential Impact, Alignment with University Strategic Goals, Interdisciplinarity, and Clarity & Organization. Each criterion is assessed on a 5-point scale (5 = Excellent, 1 = Needs Significant Improvement).
Rubric
| Criterion | 4-5 Points | 2-3 Points | 0-1 Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innovation | Proposes a highly original and transformative use of AI/LLMs. The proposed approach significantly advances current practices or opens new avenues for exploration | Proposes a somewhat innovative use of AI/LLMs, building on existing methods but demonstrating unique adaptation or application. While not entirely groundbreaking, these projects show a clear effort to push the boundaries of current applications of AI/LLMs. | Offers a relatively conventional use of AI/LLMs with limited originality or novel contribution to the field. The project uses AI/LLMs in ways that are already well-established and widely recognized. |
| Feasibility | Provides a clear and well-structured plan for project implementation, with realistic timelines, resource allocation, and risk mitigation strategies. Proposed budget is clear and offers a strong justification. Demonstrates access to necessary technical expertise and infrastructure. | Presents a generally feasible plan, but some aspects require further clarification or justification. Proposed budget is somewhat unclear or is insufficiently justified. Resource allocation or risk management may need refinement. | Lacks a convincing implementation plan, with unclear timelines, insufficient resources, or unrealistic expectations. Lacks a clear budget or justification for proposed expenses. Raises significant concerns about project feasibility. |
| Potential Impact | Clearly articulates the potential impact of the project on pedagogy, student success, course/curricular development, or RSCA. Defines specific metrics for measuring success and demonstrates potential for broader dissemination or scalability. | Identifies potential impacts but lacks clear definition of success metrics or limited explanation of dissemination and scalability potential. | Impact remains undefined or limited, with negligible contribution to pedagogy, student success, or academic advancement. |
| Alignment with University Strategic Goals | Explicitly and effectively links the project to the university's identified strategic goals for AI integration, pedagogy, student success, or RSCA. Shows a deep understanding of these goals and demonstrates how the project will contribute to their achievement. Reflects a comprehensive and well-articulated connection between the project and the University’s vision for AI as articulated in the AI Strategic Plan, ensuring that the proposed project aligns seamlessly with institutional priorities. | Aligns with some university strategic goals, but the connection is superficial or lacks sufficient detail. While the project may touch on relevant areas, it does not provide a thorough explanation of how it will contribute to the University’s objectives, indicating a need for more in-depth analysis and clearer articulation of the project’s alignment with strategic goals. | Weak or nonexistent connection to university strategic goals. Fails to demonstrate how the project contributes to the university's vision for AI integration, pedagogy, student success, or RSCA. Reflects a significant gap in understanding or articulating the relevance of the project to institutional priorities. |
| Interdisciplinarity | Proposal supports interdisciplinarity by including collaborators across colleges and/or distinct departments or ffields. | Proposal partially supports interdisciplinarity by including collaborators across somewhat similar/related fields. | Proposal does not include interdisciplinary collaboration. |
| Clarity & Organization | The proposal is well-written, logical, and easy to understand. Information is presented concisely and effectively, with clear headings, subheadings, and visuals. | The proposal is generally clear and organized but may have some sections that are unclear or repetitive. | The proposal is poorly organized, difficult to follow, and may contain factual errors or inconsistencies. |
Resources:
- 成人AV视频 AI Council Strategic Plan
- 成人AV视频’s OFE Decoding the Impact of Generative AI on Teaching and Learning at 成人AV视频 webpage
- University-supported from LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft, and resources featured on 成人AV视频’s AI website
- A on the environmental impact of generative AI
- Complete College America’s
- Harvard’s metaLAB
- University of Michigan’s Institute for Data Science
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply for the Innovation in AI Grants?
The Innovation in AI Grants at the 成人AV视频 (成人AV视频) are open to all full-time faculty members. Collaborations across departments are encouraged to foster interdisciplinary projects. However, there are certain restrictions:
- Grants may be held while on sabbatical but not while on leave of absence without pay.
- Faculty who intend to terminate employment or leave 成人AV视频, or those on administrative leave or terminal notice without a contract for the next academic year, are ineligible.
- Except in extenuating circumstances, faculty must remain at 成人AV视频 for at least one academic year following the award to avoid grant repayment.
- Members of the Campus Technology Committee are not eligible to apply for the Innovation in AI Grants.
How do I submit a proposal for the Innovation in AI Grants?
You can submit a proposal online via the Innovation in AI Grant Submission Form. The submission process includes completing the online form and uploading a proposal packet in Adobe PDF format.
Should my proposal reference the AI strategic plan?
Yes, your proposal should be guided by 成人AV视频’s AI Strategic Plan and demonstrate how it aligns with the strategic goals for AI integration, pedagogy, student success, course/curricular development, and research/scholarship/creative activities.
Are there specific formatting requirements for the proposal submission?
Yes, there are specific formatting requirements. The proposal packet must be formatted with 1-inch margins and 12-point Times New Roman font. All sections must be double-spaced unless otherwise noted, and include a footer with the proposal title, the name of the first author, and the page number.
What can the grant funds be used for?
The grant funds are intended to support innovative projects focusing on the integration of Artificial Intelligence in various academic and research domains.
Are there any restrictions on how the grant funds can be spent?
Yes, recipients must adhere to the project budget outlined in their proposal. Grant funds may be used for expenses and resources necessary for the project’s completion as specified.
How will the proposals be evaluated?
Proposals will be evaluated based on six key criteria: Innovation, Feasibility, Potential Impact, Alignment with 成人AV视频/AI Strategic Goals, Interdisciplinarity, and Clarity & Organization. A rubric assessing these criteria on a 5-point scale will be used.
When will the grant awardees be notified?
Grant awardees will be notified by May 30, 2025.
Will I receive direct feedback on my proposal regardless of the award?
The document does not specify whether direct feedback will be provided. It is advisable to inquire about feedback during the submission process.
What is the timeline for the implementation of the funded projects?
Funding will be provided during Summer B, 2025, and projects are expected to be implemented during the 2025-26 academic year.
What support is available for grant recipients during the project implementation?
Recipients are encouraged to obtain pricing estimates or quotes from Information Technology Services (ITS) where appropriate. Additionally, the AI Council and the Office of Faculty Excellence provide support and resources.
Are there any specific guidelines for interdisciplinary collaborations?
Collaborations across departments are encouraged to foster interdisciplinary projects. Proposals that demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration will be positively weighed during the evaluation process.
Questions about Innovation in AI Grants can be directed to:
Amanda Kulp
Director of Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
Project Management Office
Information Technology Services
amanda.kulp@unf.edu