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Clark State College Secures $100,000 Grant to Advance AI Literacy Across Ohio Community Colleges
Clark State College has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s AI Integration in Community Colleges Program. The funding will support the college’s efforts to prepare students and faculty for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) and to embed AI literacy into the curriculum of the region’s community colleges.
Provost and vice president of academic affairs Adrienne Forgette said the grant would allow Clark State to "proactively prepare students and faculty for those changes while ensuring AI is integrated thoughtfully, ethically and in ways that support learning." She added that the project would create new workforce training opportunities that help regional employers and workers adapt to emerging technologies.
Clark State is the lead institution for a regional AI initiative that includes Southern State and Edison State community colleges. The college will oversee the implementation of the program, coordinate faculty development efforts, and facilitate the sharing of instructional resources and best practices among the three schools.
The grant will focus on AI integration in general education courses, including College Credit Plus‑aligned courses, to help create workforce training opportunities. Clark State plans to embed AI competency into several high‑enrollment courses that are also taken by College Credit Plus students, such as English composition, psychology, medical terminology and biology. The goal is to incorporate instruction on the appropriate use of AI into existing coursework rather than teaching it as a standalone topic.
In addition to course integration, the college will develop a foundational AI literacy course that can be offered to employers and community members. The course is expected to introduce AI fundamentals, responsible and ethical use of AI, prompt writing, evaluating AI‑generated content, privacy and security considerations, and practical workplace applications.
Ten faculty members will earn the Certificate in AI for Higher Education through the Digital Education Council, a program that prepares educators to integrate AI into teaching while emphasizing competent, efficient and ethical use. After certification, faculty will share their knowledge with colleagues through a Train‑the‑Trainer model.
To support the new instruction, Clark State will purchase 300 Nectir AI licenses. The platform is described as secure and education‑focused, and it will allow faculty to create course‑specific learning assistants for students.
The project will also include professional development activities where faculty will exchange teaching materials, research and outcomes developed through the initiative. Forgette noted that AI is not replacing critical thinking, communication and problem‑solving, but it is changing how these skills are applied.
The grant period runs through June 30, 2027, and all project activities and funding must be completed within that timeframe. The initiative positions the college to prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills employers increasingly expect in today’s workforce.
Provost and vice president of academic affairs Adrienne Forgette said the grant would allow Clark State to "proactively prepare students and faculty for those changes while ensuring AI is integrated thoughtfully, ethically and in ways that support learning." She added that the project would create new workforce training opportunities that help regional employers and workers adapt to emerging technologies.
Clark State is the lead institution for a regional AI initiative that includes Southern State and Edison State community colleges. The college will oversee the implementation of the program, coordinate faculty development efforts, and facilitate the sharing of instructional resources and best practices among the three schools.
The grant will focus on AI integration in general education courses, including College Credit Plus‑aligned courses, to help create workforce training opportunities. Clark State plans to embed AI competency into several high‑enrollment courses that are also taken by College Credit Plus students, such as English composition, psychology, medical terminology and biology. The goal is to incorporate instruction on the appropriate use of AI into existing coursework rather than teaching it as a standalone topic.
In addition to course integration, the college will develop a foundational AI literacy course that can be offered to employers and community members. The course is expected to introduce AI fundamentals, responsible and ethical use of AI, prompt writing, evaluating AI‑generated content, privacy and security considerations, and practical workplace applications.
Ten faculty members will earn the Certificate in AI for Higher Education through the Digital Education Council, a program that prepares educators to integrate AI into teaching while emphasizing competent, efficient and ethical use. After certification, faculty will share their knowledge with colleagues through a Train‑the‑Trainer model.
To support the new instruction, Clark State will purchase 300 Nectir AI licenses. The platform is described as secure and education‑focused, and it will allow faculty to create course‑specific learning assistants for students.
The project will also include professional development activities where faculty will exchange teaching materials, research and outcomes developed through the initiative. Forgette noted that AI is not replacing critical thinking, communication and problem‑solving, but it is changing how these skills are applied.
The grant period runs through June 30, 2027, and all project activities and funding must be completed within that timeframe. The initiative positions the college to prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills employers increasingly expect in today’s workforce.
