IU Northwest awarded $3 million grant from US Department of Labor, Education

Strengthening Institutions Program grant will fund Aligning Student Careers with Employment Networks and AI Development (ASCEND) program

Indiana University Northwest has been awarded a five-year, $3 million Strengthening Institutions Program grant from the U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education.

With this grant, IU Northwest will launch the Aligning Student Careers with Employment Networks and AI Development (ASCEND) program, a campus-wide investment to make IU Northwest a regional leader in preparing students for an AI-enabled workforce.

“ASCEND is an investment in workforce readiness and AI literacy resources for students, faculty and staff,” IU Northwest Chancellor Arrick Jackson said. “By integrating artificial intelligence across our curriculum and career pathways, we are equipping our students with the hands-on experience, digital fluency and adaptability needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving workforce. 

“Through ASCEND, our goal is that our graduates won’t just step into the workforce – they’ll be ready to lead in it.” 

The program will pursue three aligned objectives:

• Build institutional capacity for responsible AI
• Integrate workforce and digital competencies across the curriculum
• Strengthen employer-driven pathways to lead graduates to successful careers in Northwest Indiana

The ASCEND program will include two new spaces to anchor the work. The AI Pathways, Exploration and Experience (APEX) Lab will serve as a hub for AI exploration. The ePortfolios for Professional Impact and Careers (EPIC) Studio will be a place where students can document and demonstrate their career readiness.

An AI Fellows Program and AI governance framework will help prepare faculty and staff to lead responsible AI use in teaching, advising and student support. The grant will also support paid experiential learning, curriculum redesign and career readiness bootcamps to connect classroom learning to employers and alumni networks. 

These investments are designed to outlast the grant funding and build lasting institutional capacity for a future with Artificial Intelligence.

“This $3 million investment is a powerful recognition of IU Northwest’s commitment to student success and to the communities it serves,” IU President Pamela Whitten said. “Through ASCEND, IU Northwest will equip the region’s students with the skills and experiences they need to thrive in a rapidly changing workforce, while helping ensure that advances in AI translate into new opportunities for Northwest Indiana.”

Student success is a central pillar in the IU 2030 Strategic Plan. Since 2020, IU Northwest has successfully secured millions in federal grants, which have spurred innovative initiatives, such as the STEM Center, the Student Success Center, the establishment of RedHawks CARE, a program designed to address students’ basic needs, and more. 

“We see the difference these federally funded programs and initiatives are making in the lives of our students — strengthening retention and graduation rates, while also helping students feel that they belong,” Jackson added. “That is the kind of lasting impact we want to continue building for our students, their families and our region.”

The Strengthening Institutions Program award runs from Oct. 1, 2026 to Sept. 30, 2031. It includes just under $1 million upfront and is renewable, dependent on annual appropriations and project performance.