Indiana University Northwest will launch several initiatives to help students prepare for AI in the workplace, with the help of a $3 million federal grant.
The U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education awarded the five-year Strengthening Institutions Program grant. The renewable funding will help the university launch the Aligning Student Careers with Employment Networks and AI Development program.
“ASCEND is an investment in workforce readiness and AI literacy resources for students, faculty and staff,” IU Northwest Chancellor Arrick Jackson said in a press release. “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.”
The program will feature two components: The AI Pathways, Exploration and Experience Lab and the ePortfolios for Professional Impact and Careers Studio. The lab will explore ways to use AI, and the studio will focus on career readiness.
Faculty and staff also will benefit from the framework. Paid learning will prepare them to teach and advise students on responsible use and workplace connections.
“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.”
The grant is one of several that have helped facilitate the STEM Center, the Student Success Center and the RedHawks CARE program for low-income students.
IUN's enrollment also increased for the second straight year. This fall, 3,329 students are in attendance, a 2.1% increase from fall 2025, according to numbers collected on fall census day Aug. 31. New student and transfer enrollment is up 25% since fall 2024.
