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WOSC notifies state of proposed A.S. in AI and Computer Science; $1.9M FIPSE grant application submitted
Summary
The Board of Regents was informed that Western Oklahoma State College will submit a Letter of Intent for an Associate in Science in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and that the college applied for a four-year, $1,917,000 FIPSE grant to support the program.
The Board of Regents for Western Oklahoma State College was told Dec. 16 that the college plans to seek state approval for an Associate in Science in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science and has applied for federal grant funding to support the program.
President Chad Wiginton reported that the college submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) for a four-year project that would fund a new academic track called Pioneer Pipeline. "This is a 4-year grant totaling $1,917,000," Wiginton said. He also said fall enrollment is tracking higher than last year: "With the fall semester winding down, I can confidently say that we will finish at least 7% above the Fall 2024 semester." (Dr. Chad Wiginton, President.)
Rachel Beckner, Vice President for Academic Affairs, told the board a Letter of Intent for the proposed A.S. in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science will be submitted to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education as part of the required program review and approval process. The board received the notice as an informational item; no formal vote was taken on the program at the meeting.
If funded, the Pioneer Pipeline project would support creation of an A.S. in Computer Science with an emphasis in AI and cybersecurity and align with the college’s stated efforts to grow enrollment and provide workforce-aligned credentials. The board packet noted the grant application was prepared with assistance from a Congressional partner and was submitted before the grant deadline.
Next steps noted at the meeting include submitting the Letter of Intent to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and continuing the program review and approval process required by state higher-education authorities. The item was recorded as informational; no action was taken during the Dec. 16 meeting.
