“This investment affirms UTPB’s commitment to providing a forward-looking education that prepares students for the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly evolving economy,” said Dr. Sandra Woodley, UTPB President.
The University of Texas Permian Basin has received a five-year, $3 million grant through the U.S. Department of Education’s Strengthening Institutions Program. The project, AI for the Permian Basin: Developing Artificial Intelligence Ecosystems to Improve Teaching, Learning, and Workforce Outcomes (Project AIPB), will run from October 2026 through September 2031.
Project AIPB is a university-wide initiative designed to strengthen student success, modernize instruction, and prepare graduates for an increasingly AI-driven workforce. Through the grant, UTPB will create AI-enabled learning environments, establish fully equipped AI training and research hubs, expand faculty and staff development, and develop new credit and non-credit AI credential programs. The initiative will also support integrating AI tools that enhance student-success services, improve persistence, retention, and graduation rates, and strengthen workforce readiness.
“Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how students learn, how faculty teach, and how organizations operate across every sector of the economy,” said Dr. Raj Dakshinamurthy, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at UTPB. “This investment allows us to thoughtfully integrate AI into the educational experience while strengthening the support systems that help students succeed. By building AI knowledge, skills, and competencies across the university, we are creating new opportunities for innovation, academic success, and workforce readiness. I also want to thank Mrs. Jillian Woolard, Executive Director for Grants and Sponsored Programs at UTPB, for her leadership, commitment, and support throughout this process.”
The grant will also strengthen UTPB’s role as a regional convener and workforce partner. By collaborating with education, industry, and community leaders, the university will advance approaches to teaching, learning, and workforce development that reflect the needs of West Texas and the Permian Basin.
“This investment affirms UTPB’s commitment to providing a forward-looking education that prepares students for the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly evolving economy,” said Dr. Sandra Woodley, UTPB President. “By expanding access to emerging technologies and strengthening the connection between education and workforce needs, this project will create meaningful benefits for our students, our university, and the communities we serve throughout the Permian Basin.”
Over the next five years, Project AIPB will help UTPB build institutional capacity, enhance teaching and learning, and expand pathways for student achievement and career advancement. By equipping students, faculty, and staff with the knowledge and tools to navigate emerging technologies, UTPB will continue advancing innovation, economic mobility, and regional workforce development.
Project AIPB is a university-wide initiative designed to strengthen student success, modernize instruction, and prepare graduates for an increasingly AI-driven workforce. Through the grant, UTPB will create AI-enabled learning environments, establish fully equipped AI training and research hubs, expand faculty and staff development, and develop new credit and non-credit AI credential programs. The initiative will also support integrating AI tools that enhance student-success services, improve persistence, retention, and graduation rates, and strengthen workforce readiness.
“Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how students learn, how faculty teach, and how organizations operate across every sector of the economy,” said Dr. Raj Dakshinamurthy, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at UTPB. “This investment allows us to thoughtfully integrate AI into the educational experience while strengthening the support systems that help students succeed. By building AI knowledge, skills, and competencies across the university, we are creating new opportunities for innovation, academic success, and workforce readiness. I also want to thank Mrs. Jillian Woolard, Executive Director for Grants and Sponsored Programs at UTPB, for her leadership, commitment, and support throughout this process.”
The grant will also strengthen UTPB’s role as a regional convener and workforce partner. By collaborating with education, industry, and community leaders, the university will advance approaches to teaching, learning, and workforce development that reflect the needs of West Texas and the Permian Basin.
“This investment affirms UTPB’s commitment to providing a forward-looking education that prepares students for the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly evolving economy,” said Dr. Sandra Woodley, UTPB President. “By expanding access to emerging technologies and strengthening the connection between education and workforce needs, this project will create meaningful benefits for our students, our university, and the communities we serve throughout the Permian Basin.”
Over the next five years, Project AIPB will help UTPB build institutional capacity, enhance teaching and learning, and expand pathways for student achievement and career advancement. By equipping students, faculty, and staff with the knowledge and tools to navigate emerging technologies, UTPB will continue advancing innovation, economic mobility, and regional workforce development.
