A total of 35 University of Idaho projects will receive funding awards from the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan Investment Grant Program, UI president Scott Green announced in an email to employees on Thursday.
“These awards reflect a major institutional investment in advancing the new strategic plan and strengthening alignment across our five pillars,” Green wrote.
Green previously announced the opportunity at his Sept. 2 State of the University Address. The one-time internal funding opportunity, awarding grants of $5,000 or more, would benefit ideas and projects that support the university’s goals, feature collaboration across departments and integrate artificial intelligence.
Final reports for 2026 projects will be due on Sept. 1, 2026; for multi-year projects, progress reports will be due the same day.
“We are executing plans that are truly unique from any other university in the country. The broad engagement and creativity reflected in these projects underscore our shared commitment to shaping UI’s next era of excellence,” Green wrote.
UI plans to finalize agreements, establish project timelines and communicate with all applicants over the next few weeks, according to Green.
Six to eight projects received grants for each of the university’s five strategic pillars. In addition to the pillars, the AI Literacy and Faculty Development Initiative was chosen to advance campus-wide artificial intelligence integration.
For Pillar 1 – Ignite Student Success, projects were chosen that would expand access, strengthen student support and improve academic outcomes. Recipients were:
- Vandal Finish (Strategic Enrollment Management and the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences) – Completion pathway initiative to support returning and near-complete students
- Data to Degrees (Academic Affairs) – Using data analytics to improve retention and completion
- Construction Management Expansion (College of Art and Architecture, College of Business and Economics and College of Engineering) – Launching a new program to meet workforce demand
- AI & Analytics Lab (CBE) – Creating applied AI and analytics learning opportunities for students
- Unlocking Wellbeing (Student Affairs) – Expanding mental health and wellness resources for students
- AI Law Era (College of Law) – Integrating AI literacy into legal education
Pillar 2 – Drive Experiential Learning features projects that strengthen hands-on learning and connect students with real-world opportunities. Projects include:
- Global Career Accelerator (SEM) – Scaling digital micro-internships and career experiences
- Sustainability Challenge (CLASS) – Advancing interdisciplinary sustainability education
- Robotics Lab (Idaho Falls) (Engineering and UI Idaho Falls) – Expanding applied robotics and automation capacity
- Extension Summer Interns (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences) – Engaging students in statewide Extension and community impact projects
- TATERS (SEM) – Supporting course redesign to integrate experiential learning
- SEEP: Stormwater Education and Environmental Protection (CALS and Idaho Water Resources Research Institute) – Applied training program for workforce and regulatory partners
- Investing in Discovery (Academic Affairs) – Strengthening undergraduate research opportunities across disciplines
In Pillar 3 – Adapt the Educational Model, projects that encourage flexible, transfer-friendly and alternative paths to higher education were chosen. Recipients of this award were:
- Centralized Instructional Design Support (Academic Affairs) – Coordinated instructional design and course development model
- Micro-Grants for Community College Research (ENGR and UI Coeur d’Alene) – Expanding undergraduate research and transfer pipelines
- University Transfer Curriculum Management (Academic Affairs and SEM) – Streamlining articulation and transfer agreements
- Master of Health Administration Program Development (School of Health and Medical Professions) – Launching the Master of Health Administration program
- Vandal Transfer Advantage – North Idaho College Pilot (SEM and UI Coeur d’Alene) – Strengthening community college transfer recruitment
- Growing Criminology and Justice Pathways (CLASS) – Expanding regional access through embedded faculty partnerships
Pillar 4 – Harness Research, Innovation and Partnerships focuses on projects that invest in research capacity, interdisciplinary collaboration and external partnerships. The following programs received grants:
- Drone Lab Service Center (College of Natural Resources) – Building research and training capacity in unmanned aerial systems
- Pitkin Nursery Expansion (CNR) – Leveraging federal partnerships to expand forestry research and production
- Grant Proposal Resubmissions Initiative (Office of Research and Economic Development) – Supporting competitive grant resubmissions and faculty development
- New Medical Education Partnership (SHAMP) – Establishing a collaborative Doctor of Medicine program with the University of Utah
- Geospatial AI Initiative (CNR) – Integrating AI into environmental research and remote sensing.
- Expanding Ed.D. Recruitment (College of Education, Health and Human Sciences) – Growing Idaho’s educational leadership programs through employer partnerships
- Indigenous Research and Education Retreats (CNR, CEHHS and CLASS) – Advancing Indigenous-centered research collaborations
Projects falling under Pillar 5 – Optimize Operational Excellence strengthen university-wide systems, processes and efficiency. Programs receiving awards included:
- Research Administration Excellence Initiative (ORED) – Improving research management and compliance systems
- Interns as Catalysts (ORED) – Establishing a paid internship model for operational improvement
- AI Recruiter (SEM) – Automating recruitment and admissions processes
- Data Governance and Modernization (Office of Information Technology) – Building the foundation for enterprise data stewardship and analytics
- Inbox Automation Pilot (OIT) – Reducing administrative response time through AI integration
- CDA Data Center Initiative (UI Coeur d’Alene) – Developing secure infrastructure for data hosting and research
- Operational Excellence Support Program (ORED) – Leveraging internal consulting capacity for process improvement
- AI Organizational Expansion (ORED) – Institutionalizing AI tools and literacy for efficiency and innovation
These programs were chosen after a “rigorous review process” by multiple groups, including employees and students, Green wrote. Final selection was based on return on investment, alignment with the strategic plan and principles of transparency and collaboration.
Dakota Steffen can be reached at [email protected].