Education 2 July 2026

Southern State awarded AI grant to expand student success and workforce innovation

Southern State Community College is the co-recipient of a $100,000 grant being awarded by the “Implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Competency into College Curriculum” project through the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) AI Integration in Community Colleges Grant Program.
 
A consortial effort between Southern State and two other community colleges, this grant will enable faculty from all three institutions to share resources, outcomes, and best practices developed through the project.
 
Designed to support student success, faculty training, curriculum integration, AI certifications, and AI licensing, this grant will also prepare students for careers in an increasingly AI-driven economy while enhancing teaching, learning, and operational effectiveness. Planned initiatives include faculty professional development, AI-enhanced curriculum, student support technologies, and partnerships with regional employers to align training with workforce needs.
 
"This investment positions Southern State to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the rapidly evolving workplace," said Dr. Nicole Roades, President of Southern State Community College. "By integrating artificial intelligence responsibly and thoughtfully, we are strengthening educational opportunities while ensuring our graduates are prepared for the future workplace."
 
The grant initiative will be implemented over the 2026-27 academic year with measurable goals focused on student achievement, workforce readiness, and institutional innovation.
 
According to Southern State’s Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Peter Hanson, “the project reflects the college's ongoing commitment to innovation, workforce development, and student success.”
 
“As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries and work, Southern State is committed to providing students with practical experience and the critical thinking skills needed to thrive in technology-enabled careers,” adds Dr. Hanson.
 
For more information about this initiative, contact Dr. Hanson at 800.628.7722, Ext. 2630 or email phanson@sscc.edu.

Add new comment

This is not for publication.
This is not for publication.
About text formats

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.
Article comments are not posted immediately to the Web site. Each submission must be approved by the Web site editor, who may edit content for appropriateness. There may be a delay of 24-48 hours for any submission while the web site editor reviews and approves it. Note: All information on this form is required. Your telephone number and email address is for our use only, and will not be attached to your comment.
CAPTCHA This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.