San José State in Partnership with Quality Matters, Awarded $150K Grant to Advance Artificial Intelligence in California’s Public Colleges and Universities

San José State University, in partnership with Quality Matters, is proud to announce it has received a $150,000 grant from the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, administered by the Foundation for California Community Colleges.

The funding will be used to advance the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in California’s public higher education system, to improve student outcomes statewide.

The grant is expected to transform teaching and learning by leveraging AI-driven insights and student-centered feedback to empower faculty with innovative, equitable course design tools and resources. In collaboration with Quality Matters, this work also seeks to establish a broader framework for effective AI-human collaboration in course design.

“We are honored to partner with QM to take an exciting step forward in shaping the future of online education,” says SJSU Lead Instructional Designer of CFETI Dr. Yingjie Liu. “This collaboration is not just about AI — it’s about establishing a strong framework for effective AI-human collaboration in course design and review, ensuring that online education thrives in the AI-driven era.”

SJSU and Quality Matters submitted the grant proposal through the California Education Learning Lab’s AI FAST Challenge: Funding for Accelerated Study and Transformation.

The project, called SpartanAI: Elevating Course Design with Faculty and Student-Centric AI Agent project, is a collaborative effort by:

• Yingjie Liu, Lead Instructional Designer of the Center for Faculty Excellence and Teaching Innovation (CFETI), SJSU
• Magdalini Eirinaki, professor of computer engineering and program director of the MS in AI, SJSU SJSU Professor and Program Director of MS AI
• Wencen Wu, associate professor of computer engineering and coordinator of extended studies for the MS in AI
• Deborah Adair, Quality Matters Chief Executive Officer
• Barbra Burch, Quality Matters Manager of Research and Development

“This partnership between SJSU and Quality Matters allows us to thoughtfully engage both faculty and students to understand and advance AI-enhanced education, combining artificial intelligence with human expertise to effectively and efficiently provide quality online learning,” says Quality Matters CEO Deborah Adair.

Please visit the site to learn more about the SpartanAI project and its implications for higher education.

About Quality Matters

Grounded in research. Driven by best practices. A community that puts learners first. Quality Matters (QM) is the global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments. It provides a scalable quality assurance system for online and blended learning used within and across organizations. When you see QM Recognition and Certification Marks on courses or programs, it means they have met QM Course or Program Quality Standards in a rigorous review process.