Enhancing AI research and education on campus

 

POSTED ON Apr 21, 2025

 

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley was honored at the Texas Capitol recently for a decade of growth, innovation, and impact. According to UTRGV, since opening their doors in 2015, they have notched up countless achievements.

Over the past 10 years, UTRGV has awarded 56,000+ degrees, added 42 new degree programs, grown research by nearly 600%, opened the only medical school in South Texas, launched Texas’s first School of Podiatric Medicine, and are on track to open the Valley’s first cancer and surgery center in 2025.

Research and education at the university has recently received a big boost.

UTRGV announced it has received a $2.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation through the ExpandAI Program to partner with Georgia Institute of Technology’s AI Institute for Advances in Optimization.

The AI Research and Innovation for Smart Environments project aims to enhance UTRGV’s AI research and education by offering specialized courses, strengthening its computer science doctoral program, and providing hands-on training for students and faculty.

Success will be measured by developing scalable AI models, which will also refine research on infrastructure monitoring.

Similarly, San Diego State University (SDSU) announced a $2.8 million NSF grant for a project titled “PARTNER,” aimed at expanding AI education for students, including K-12 and community college learners.

The initiative focuses on optimizing safety in autonomous AI systems and will enhance an existing robotics summer camp for middle and high school students.

Participants will create algorithms and learn from AI experts.

The project will also support community college students with mentorship and research opportunities through SDSU’s STEM Pathways program, which aims to ease their transition to university life.

New AI courses will be developed, benefiting a broad range of students.