Cochise Newsroom

Cochise College has been awarded a $1.87 million federal grant through the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) by the U.S. Department of Education as part of a national initiative supporting the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance teaching and learning in higher education. The award supports a project designed to bridge the gap between education and workforce development. Through the project, Cochise College will develop tools and training to help community colleges nationwide adopt AI responsibly and effectively. 

 

Core initiatives for this project include: 

• A Rural AI Playbook
• K-12 to Industry Taskforce
• GenAI Workforce Microcredential
• Faculty and Staff Development 

 

With this investment, Cochise College is building a replicable model called the "Rural AI Playbook" that demonstrates how community colleges can lead in ethical AI implementation. The project's instructional modules and training guides will be released as Open Educational Resources (OER), providing a scalable blueprint for rural colleges nationwide. 

The "AI-Powered Success" grant will equip approximately 4,000 students (including first-generation, military-connected, and low-income learners), faculty, and regional employers with the skills to navigate the AI revolution. The college is moving beyond "keeping up" with technology to define how rural colleges implement it. 

"This grant marks a strategic shift for rural education," said Dr. James Perey, Cochise College president. "By remaining student-centered, community-anchored, and future-ready, the college is empowering our students and communities not only to understand AI but to shape today's evolving workforce." 

The initiatives will be implemented over a four-year period, with a primary emphasis on ethical artificial intelligence integration, workforce readiness, and leadership in rural education. New milestones related to the project will be shared publicly as the initiative develops. 

Learn more about Cochise College, visit cochise.edu