(INDIANAPOLIS) - Trine University has received a $200,000 grant to help shape how artificial intelligence is used in higher education as the technology rapidly reshapes classrooms and careers.
The funding comes from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education initiative. The planning grant will allow Trine to study both the opportunities and challenges of AI and create a roadmap for responsibly integrating it into academic programs.
University President Earl D. Brooks II said Trine has already been working to stay ahead of the curve as AI tools become more common across industries.
The grant will support the university's AI Task Force, which has been in place for about two years. Faculty from each academic school will examine issues such as maintaining academic integrity, preserving human-centered learning, and determining how AI can best support teaching and student success.
Trine also plans to pilot a secure, open-source generative AI platform that would allow the university to build customized AI assistants for academic and institutional use. Funding will also be used for faculty training and professional development tied to AI in higher education.
Lilly Endowment officials say the initiative is designed to help Indiana colleges prepare students for a future increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. A second phase of the program, focused on implementation and collaboration between institutions, is expected to be announced in late 2026.