Updated November 12, 2025

The Fund for Excellence and Innovation (FFEI) was established during the 2016 legislative session to focus on two primary activities: stimulate collaborations among public school divisions, community colleges and universities and to expand affordable student pathways; and pursue shared services and other efficiency initiatives at colleges and universities that lead to measurable cost reductions.

In September 2025, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV Council) endorsed a new statewide strategic plan framework, with a new plan to be effective in January 2026. The new framework indicates a focus on leading the nation in talent development which the Commonwealth can achieve by progressing toward three broad goals, promoting higher education that is: (i) ready; (ii) responsive; and (iii) relevant. 

In Fall 2025, SCHEV seeks to award the first round of FFEI funds under the newest statewide strategic plan. This opportunity has the potential to support any or all the new strategic plan goals by preparing students learning and working in an AI-forward world (ready), aligning with workforce and labor market demands driven by AI (relevant), and meeting the needs of students and Virginians writ large through AI efficiencies (relevant). One or more teams (led by a public institution) awarded an FFEI "Creating Student Pathways or Communities of Practice in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Grant" will be expected to engage in one of the following two tracks: 

Track 1: Expand or enhance existing AI efforts between secondary and post-secondary education (and/or within post-secondary education) in AI-related student outreach, academic integration, labor-market alignment and/or shared services for institutions of higher education and/or K-12 institutions; assess the impact of the supported activities; and share the results. Some activities may include leveraging AI to retool current programs to attract nontraditional learners, broaden credentialing options (including stackable micro-credentials), or scaling existing projects for broader impact. The goal will be furthering the readiness of current and future students for work and life involving artificial intelligence.

Track 2: Procure new shared services and create a community of practice within Virginia postsecondary education (and/or between Virginia secondary and postsecondary education) to support the integration of AI in instructional and student support. This integration may include professional development to bridge gaps in expertise among faculty, student support services that provide AI training or AI tools and resources, stackable micro-credentials/micro-badging opportunities, efforts to shorten time to degree/credential, supports for nontraditional learners (e.g., retooling programs for shorter semesters to support adult learners), efforts to reduce transfer curricular complexity (i.e., identifying the most efficient course sequence along the two- and four-year curricular pathway), analysis of credit for prior learning and alignment to transfer pathways (e.g., Military experience, AP, CLEP),  or other similar projects and initiatives.

Proposals OR Letters of Intent Due: December 15, 2025 (see updated Call for Proposals for additional instructions related to the Letter of Intent)
Final Day to Submit Proposals: January 20, 2026
Length of Award: up to 30 months
Estimated Start Date: March 2, 2026
Award Amount: up to $250,000 *

* The number of projects awarded and the amount of the award(s) will be dependent upon the number of viable submissions for each track. The total amount appropriated to this initiative in FY 2026 is $250,000. It is possible that one track could be selected to receive the total funding and for one project to receive the total funding if the proposal includes a structured and feasible plan for statewide impact. Otherwise, the funding will be divided accordingly based on the number of approved proposals.

Review the full RFP for application instructions and additional details.

2026 FFEI Call for Proposals

SCHEV hosted an informational webinar on Tuesday, November 5, 2025. You can find the recording and slide deck below.

Webinar recording
Slide deck

Brief summary on work accomplished through FFEI funds since 2018.

Questions: Taylor Clark, Associate of Strategic Planning and Policy Studies, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Grantee/Applicant Resources
Budget Template
Timeline and Milestones Template
Amendment Request Form

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