The U.S. Department of Education released priorities for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), targeting accreditation reform, artificial intelligence, civil discourse and short-term workforce training as funding streams. Award sizes range from $7 million to $60 million across four categories, and applications are due Dec. 3 with awards expected by year-end. Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent framed the competition as aligned with the administration’s emphasis on viewpoint diversity, accreditation overhaul and workforce-driven programs. Officials cautioned, however, that staffing disruptions and recent reductions in OPE personnel could complicate administration of the competitions until departmental staffing is fully restored. Why it matters: The program priorities signal federal direction for institutional innovation and regulatory change, and universities should prepare proposals that tie AI adoption, accreditation alignment and workforce credentials to measurable outcomes.