- Program & Application Information
- Legislation & Performance Reporting
- Resources
- Call for Peer Reviewers
- Past Awards
Program Purpose
- The purpose of the FIPSE-SP program is to provide grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs), combinations of such institutions, and other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies, as the Secretary deems necessary, to support innovative projects concerning one or more areas of national need identified by the Secretary. This competition focuses on supporting four areas of national need:
- Expanding the understanding and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in education,
- Protecting and promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses,
- Promoting accreditation reform, and
- Supporting capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs.
- In order to support these four crucial needs, two (2) priorities (Absolute Priorities 1 and 2) dedicated to advancing the understanding and use of AI in education, one (1) priority (Absolute Priority 3) dedicated to civil discourse on college and university campuses, two (2) priorities (Absolute Priorities 4 and 5) within accreditation reform, and two (2) priorities (Absolute Priorities 6 and 7) for capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs. Additionally, within Absolute Priority 3 there are two (2) Competitive Preference Priorities in the area of protecting and promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses. The Department intends to award $50 million to advance AI in Education, $60 million in awards to promote civil discourse on college and university campuses, $7 million to support accreditation reform efforts, and $50 million for capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs.
Eligibility
- Institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the higher education act of 1965, as amended (HEA)), consortia of such institutions, and other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies including state higher education agencies as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1003(22).
Note: An applicant that is a nonprofit organization may, under 34 CFR 75.51, demonstrate its nonprofit status by providing:
- Proof that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private shareholder or individual;
- A certified copy of the applicant's certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or
- Any item described above if that item applies to a State or national parent organization, together with a statement by the State or parent organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate. The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008 amended the authorized grant activities under Part A of Title V of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 (individual development grants) to include innovative and customized instruction course development; articulation agreement and student support program activities designed to facilitate student transfer from two-year to four-year institutions; activities that improve student financial and economic literacy; and activities to develop distance education technologies.
- An eligible entity may submit only one (1) grant application under an area of national need as the lead applicant. An entity can be included as a partner in multiple applications.
Note: The eligible entity may apply to all four (4) areas of national need as the lead applicant but must submit a separate grant application for each area of national need.
Timeline & Funding
- Current Competition: FY 2025
- Application Available: November 12, 2025
- Application Deadline: December 3, 2025
- FY 2025 Estimated Available Funds: $167,000,000
- Of this amount, we estimate allocating across the areas of national need and absolute priorities as follows:
- Advancing AI in Education (Absolute Priorities 1 and 2): $50,000,000, including $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 1 and $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 2.
- Promoting Civil Discourse (Absolute Priority 3): $60,000,000
- Accreditation Reform (Absolute Priorities 4 and 5): $7,000,000, including $3,500,000 under Absolute Priority 4 and $3,500,000 under Absolute Priority 5.
- Capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs (Absolute Priorities 6 and 7): $50,000,000, including $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 6 and $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 7.
- Of this amount, we estimate allocating across the areas of national need and absolute priorities as follows:
Federal Register Notice
To Apply
- The FY 2025 Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education – Special Projects (FIPSE – SP) program application is available until December 3, 2025, on the Grants.gov website.
- You can find the funding opportunity by searching for ALN 84.116J or the Funding Opportunity Number ED-GRANTS-111225-001.
- Review the FY 2025 FIPSE – SP Program Application Booklet
Application Tips and Assistance
- Please follow the guidance published in the Federal Register Notice and the application instructions in Grants.gov.
- Informational Webinar
- This informational webinar will occur on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 11:00 am EST.
- Learn more and register for the webinar.
- Pre-Application Technical Assistance Webinar
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Additional pre-application technical assistance will be provided by the program office and additional information will be posted under the “Related Documents” tab in Grants.gov.
- Main Contact: FIPSE-SP@ed.gov
- Program Contacts:
- Dr. Stacey Slijepcevic, Stacey.Slijepcevic@ed.gov, 202-453-6150
- Kurrinn Abrams, Kurrinn.Abrams2@ed.gov, 202-987-1920
- Program Contacts:
Program Authority
- 20 U.S.C. 1138; 20 U.S.C. 1138c.
- Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in the Federal civil rights laws.
Applicable Regulations
- (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
- (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485.
- (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474.
Performance Measures
For the purpose of Department reporting under 34 CFR 75.110, the Department has established a set of performance measures for this competition:
- Project-Specific Performance Measures: Applicants must propose project-specific performance measures and performance targets (both as defined in this notice) consistent with the objectives of the proposed project. Applications must provide the following information as directed under 34 CFR 75.110(b) and (c):
- Project-specific performance measures: How each proposed project-specific performance measure would accurately measure the performance of the project; be consistent with the program performance measures established under this notice; and be used to inform continuous improvement of the project.
- Baseline (as defined in the notice) data: (i) Why each proposed baseline is valid and reliable, including an assessment of the quality data used to establish the baseline; or (ii) if the applicant has determined that there are no established baseline data for a particular performance measure, an explanation of why there is no established baseline and of how and when, during the project period, the applicant would establish a valid baseline for the performance measure.
- Performance targets: Why each proposed performance target is ambitious yet achievable compared to the baseline for the performance measure and when, during the project period, the applicant would meet the performance target(s).
Performance Reports
- All grantees must submit an annual performance report with information that is responsive to these performance measures.
- If you apply for a grant under this competition, you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive funding under the competition. See the standards in 2 CFR 170.105 to determine whether you are covered by 2 CFR part 170.
- At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). Visit the Grant Application and Other Forms page for specific requirements on reporting.
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, is seeking peer reviewers to read and evaluate discretionary grant applications for the FY 2025 Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education – Special Projects (FIPSE-SP) program competition. The purpose of the FIPSE-SP program is to provide grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs), combinations of such institutions, and other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies, as the Secretary deems necessary, to support innovative projects concerning one or more areas of national need identified by the Secretary. This competition focuses on supporting four (4) areas of national need:
- Expanding the understanding and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in postsecondary education,
- Promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses,
- Promoting accreditation reform, and
- Supporting capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs.
In order to support these four (4) crucial needs, this competition includes seven (7) absolute priorities under which applicants can apply: two (2) priorities dedicated to advancing the understanding and use of AI in education (Absolute Priorities 1 and 2), one (1) priority dedicated to promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses (Absolute Priority 3), two (2) priorities promoting accreditation reform (Absolute Priorities 4 and 5), and two (2) priorities for capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs (Absolute Priority 6 and 7). The competition also includes two (2) competitive preference priorities in the area of promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses.
The Department is interested in peer reviewers who are comfortable working on a tight timeline with a strict deadline, so that we may award funds prior to December 31, 2025.
We are seeking peer reviewers with various professional backgrounds and subject matter expertise including:
- College and university professionals
- State higher education agency & Local education agency administrators and
- professionals
- Public and private nonprofit organization professionals
- Educational strategists and evaluators
- Grant writers/makers
- Accreditation professionals
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Workforce development (i.e., internships, apprenticeships, micro credentials, etc.)
- Teacher preparation and professional development
- Computer science & data analytics
- Postsecondary student support services Postsecondary curriculum & program
- development (all academic fields)
- Civic education (i.e., civic thought, constitutional studies, American history, and
- economic liberty)
- Public administration and/or public policy
- Personalized learning, adaptive learning technologies, and differentiated instruction
Selected reviewers will be expected to participate in a reviewer training webinar on December 2, 2025 (time TBD). Upon participation in the webinar, reviewers will be expected to read ~10 applications, score each selection criterion, and provide the applicant with substantive feedback pertaining to the score awarded. Reviewers are expected to meet specific deadlines and participate in panel discussions with other reviewers who have read and scored the same applications. We anticipate the review will take place December 5-17, 2025. The entire process will be handled electronically, and travel is not required. All reviewers who complete the process will be provided an honorarium.
Reviewers are held to high standards of writing and the paramount responsibility of preserving the integrity of the review (by omitting or reporting potential bias, or conflicts of interest). Reviewers should be comfortable reading a large volume of material in a defined period of time and be capable of providing in-depth individual analysis and participating in small group discussions about the applications.
If you are interested in serving as a peer reviewer for this grant competition, send your resume showing your expertise in the areas listed above, as well as any applicable experience reviewing or approving grant applications, to FIPSE-SP@ed.gov.
FY 2025 Awards
Funding Summaries and Project Abstracts
The FY 2025 FIPSE-SP Funding Summaries and Project Abstracts for each of the four areas of national need are included below for your reference.
- Area of National Need #1: Advancing the Understanding of and Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology in Postsecondary Education
- Area of National Need #2: Promoting Civil Discourse on College and University Campuses
- Area of National Need #3: Promoting Accreditation Reform
- Area of National Need #4: Supporting Capacity-Building for High-Quality Short-Term Programs
Program Purpose
- The purpose of the FIPSE-SP program is to provide grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs), combinations of such institutions, and other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies, as the Secretary deems necessary, to support innovative projects concerning one or more areas of national need identified by the Secretary. This competition focuses on supporting four areas of national need:
- Expanding the understanding and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in education,
- Protecting and promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses,
- Promoting accreditation reform, and
- Supporting capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs.
- In order to support these four crucial needs, two (2) priorities (Absolute Priorities 1 and 2) dedicated to advancing the understanding and use of AI in education, one (1) priority (Absolute Priority 3) dedicated to civil discourse on college and university campuses, two (2) priorities (Absolute Priorities 4 and 5) within accreditation reform, and two (2) priorities (Absolute Priorities 6 and 7) for capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs. Additionally, within Absolute Priority 3 there are two (2) Competitive Preference Priorities in the area of protecting and promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses. The Department intends to award $50 million to advance AI in Education, $60 million in awards to promote civil discourse on college and university campuses, $7 million to support accreditation reform efforts, and $50 million for capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs.
Eligibility
- Institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the higher education act of 1965, as amended (HEA)), consortia of such institutions, and other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies including state higher education agencies as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1003(22).
Note: An applicant that is a nonprofit organization may, under 34 CFR 75.51, demonstrate its nonprofit status by providing:
- Proof that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private shareholder or individual;
- A certified copy of the applicant's certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or
- Any item described above if that item applies to a State or national parent organization, together with a statement by the State or parent organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate. The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008 amended the authorized grant activities under Part A of Title V of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 (individual development grants) to include innovative and customized instruction course development; articulation agreement and student support program activities designed to facilitate student transfer from two-year to four-year institutions; activities that improve student financial and economic literacy; and activities to develop distance education technologies.
- An eligible entity may submit only one (1) grant application under an area of national need as the lead applicant. An entity can be included as a partner in multiple applications.
Note: The eligible entity may apply to all four (4) areas of national need as the lead applicant but must submit a separate grant application for each area of national need.
Timeline & Funding
- Current Competition: FY 2025
- Application Available: November 12, 2025
- Application Deadline: December 3, 2025
- FY 2025 Estimated Available Funds: $167,000,000
- Of this amount, we estimate allocating across the areas of national need and absolute priorities as follows:
- Advancing AI in Education (Absolute Priorities 1 and 2): $50,000,000, including $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 1 and $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 2.
- Promoting Civil Discourse (Absolute Priority 3): $60,000,000
- Accreditation Reform (Absolute Priorities 4 and 5): $7,000,000, including $3,500,000 under Absolute Priority 4 and $3,500,000 under Absolute Priority 5.
- Capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs (Absolute Priorities 6 and 7): $50,000,000, including $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 6 and $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 7.
- Of this amount, we estimate allocating across the areas of national need and absolute priorities as follows:
Federal Register Notice
To Apply
- The FY 2025 Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education – Special Projects (FIPSE – SP) program application is available until December 3, 2025, on the Grants.gov website.
- You can find the funding opportunity by searching for ALN 84.116J or the Funding Opportunity Number ED-GRANTS-111225-001.
- Review the FY 2025 FIPSE – SP Program Application Booklet
Application Tips and Assistance
- Please follow the guidance published in the Federal Register Notice and the application instructions in Grants.gov.
- Informational Webinar
- This informational webinar will occur on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 11:00 am EST.
- Learn more and register for the webinar.
- Pre-Application Technical Assistance Webinar
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Additional pre-application technical assistance will be provided by the program office and additional information will be posted under the “Related Documents” tab in Grants.gov.
- Main Contact: FIPSE-SP@ed.gov
- Program Contacts:
- Dr. Stacey Slijepcevic, Stacey.Slijepcevic@ed.gov, 202-453-6150
- Kurrinn Abrams, Kurrinn.Abrams2@ed.gov, 202-987-1920
- Program Contacts:
Program Authority
- 20 U.S.C. 1138; 20 U.S.C. 1138c.
- Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in the Federal civil rights laws.
Applicable Regulations
- (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
- (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485.
- (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474.
Performance Measures
For the purpose of Department reporting under 34 CFR 75.110, the Department has established a set of performance measures for this competition:
- Project-Specific Performance Measures: Applicants must propose project-specific performance measures and performance targets (both as defined in this notice) consistent with the objectives of the proposed project. Applications must provide the following information as directed under 34 CFR 75.110(b) and (c):
- Project-specific performance measures: How each proposed project-specific performance measure would accurately measure the performance of the project; be consistent with the program performance measures established under this notice; and be used to inform continuous improvement of the project.
- Baseline (as defined in the notice) data: (i) Why each proposed baseline is valid and reliable, including an assessment of the quality data used to establish the baseline; or (ii) if the applicant has determined that there are no established baseline data for a particular performance measure, an explanation of why there is no established baseline and of how and when, during the project period, the applicant would establish a valid baseline for the performance measure.
- Performance targets: Why each proposed performance target is ambitious yet achievable compared to the baseline for the performance measure and when, during the project period, the applicant would meet the performance target(s).
Performance Reports
- All grantees must submit an annual performance report with information that is responsive to these performance measures.
- If you apply for a grant under this competition, you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive funding under the competition. See the standards in 2 CFR 170.105 to determine whether you are covered by 2 CFR part 170.
- At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). Visit the Grant Application and Other Forms page for specific requirements on reporting.
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, is seeking peer reviewers to read and evaluate discretionary grant applications for the FY 2025 Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education – Special Projects (FIPSE-SP) program competition. The purpose of the FIPSE-SP program is to provide grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs), combinations of such institutions, and other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies, as the Secretary deems necessary, to support innovative projects concerning one or more areas of national need identified by the Secretary. This competition focuses on supporting four (4) areas of national need:
- Expanding the understanding and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in postsecondary education,
- Promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses,
- Promoting accreditation reform, and
- Supporting capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs.
In order to support these four (4) crucial needs, this competition includes seven (7) absolute priorities under which applicants can apply: two (2) priorities dedicated to advancing the understanding and use of AI in education (Absolute Priorities 1 and 2), one (1) priority dedicated to promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses (Absolute Priority 3), two (2) priorities promoting accreditation reform (Absolute Priorities 4 and 5), and two (2) priorities for capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs (Absolute Priority 6 and 7). The competition also includes two (2) competitive preference priorities in the area of promoting civil discourse on college and university campuses.
The Department is interested in peer reviewers who are comfortable working on a tight timeline with a strict deadline, so that we may award funds prior to December 31, 2025.
We are seeking peer reviewers with various professional backgrounds and subject matter expertise including:
- College and university professionals
- State higher education agency & Local education agency administrators and
- professionals
- Public and private nonprofit organization professionals
- Educational strategists and evaluators
- Grant writers/makers
- Accreditation professionals
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Workforce development (i.e., internships, apprenticeships, micro credentials, etc.)
- Teacher preparation and professional development
- Computer science & data analytics
- Postsecondary student support services Postsecondary curriculum & program
- development (all academic fields)
- Civic education (i.e., civic thought, constitutional studies, American history, and
- economic liberty)
- Public administration and/or public policy
- Personalized learning, adaptive learning technologies, and differentiated instruction
Selected reviewers will be expected to participate in a reviewer training webinar on December 2, 2025 (time TBD). Upon participation in the webinar, reviewers will be expected to read ~10 applications, score each selection criterion, and provide the applicant with substantive feedback pertaining to the score awarded. Reviewers are expected to meet specific deadlines and participate in panel discussions with other reviewers who have read and scored the same applications. We anticipate the review will take place December 5-17, 2025. The entire process will be handled electronically, and travel is not required. All reviewers who complete the process will be provided an honorarium.
Reviewers are held to high standards of writing and the paramount responsibility of preserving the integrity of the review (by omitting or reporting potential bias, or conflicts of interest). Reviewers should be comfortable reading a large volume of material in a defined period of time and be capable of providing in-depth individual analysis and participating in small group discussions about the applications.
If you are interested in serving as a peer reviewer for this grant competition, send your resume showing your expertise in the areas listed above, as well as any applicable experience reviewing or approving grant applications, to FIPSE-SP@ed.gov.
FY 2025 Awards
Funding Summaries and Project Abstracts
The FY 2025 FIPSE-SP Funding Summaries and Project Abstracts for each of the four areas of national need are included below for your reference.
- Area of National Need #1: Advancing the Understanding of and Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology in Postsecondary Education
- Area of National Need #2: Promoting Civil Discourse on College and University Campuses
- Area of National Need #3: Promoting Accreditation Reform
- Area of National Need #4: Supporting Capacity-Building for High-Quality Short-Term Programs