On November 10, ED announced seven new priorities for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) for FY 2025. 

FIPSE is a unit within ED’s Office of Postsecondary Education that conducts competitive grant competitions each year that aim to “improve postsecondary educational opportunities.” Public and private nonprofit colleges are eligible to receive the grants, as are technical schools, professional associations, employers and unions, state and local education agencies, and other entities.

ED issued a Federal Register notice inviting applications for FIPSE grants that would address the following priorities:

  • Civil Discourse ($60M): Supporting civil discourse at institutions of higher education through activities such as seminars, speaker series, conferences, debates that include a range of viewpoints and encourage dialogue.
  • Artificial Intelligence ($50M): Exploring new ways to use AI to advance teaching and learning as well as improve student success.  It will also seek applications that can broaden access to AI and computer science training. 
  • Short-Term Programs ($50M): Supporting the development of new programs that meet the eligibility requirements for Workforce Pell grants as established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Under this priority, ED will also provide direct funding to existing short-term programs to support their expansion.
  • Accreditation ($7M): Providing direct support for colleges and universities seeking to switch to a new accrediting agency. Under this priority, ED will also support efforts to launch new accrediting agencies to promote competition in the accreditation landscape.

Why it Matters

FIPSE has historically been utilized as one of the only discretionary postsecondary grant programs to advance an administration’s priorities. For example, former President Obama utilized the fund for the First In the World initiative that sought to improve active learning, student success, and affordability. Similarly, ED is now utilizing FIPSE to advance its initiatives including Workforce Pell and accreditation reform.

What’s Next

With applications officially having opened on November 12, interested entities must now submit applications by December 3. ED plans to award grant money through FIPSE by December 31.