$150,000 Grant Funds New Academic Programs at SFCC; Workforce Training Launches Online Options
Spokane Colleges today announced it will use a grant from the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges High Demand Enrollment Fund to launch new artificial intelligence (AI) program offerings at Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC). The new programs will include an AI area of emphasis within the existing Associate in Applied Science — Information Technology / Cybersecurity program as well as a new standalone AI certificate.
In addition to funding curriculum development and faculty professional development, the grant will fund the purchase of equipment needed to support the large language models and data sets necessary for coursework. It will also support the expansion of internship and job placement partnerships with regional employers in cybersecurity related fields including technology, healthcare, and manufacturing.
“The demand for AI and machine learning specialists has surged, and Spokane is rapidly emerging as a leader in advanced manufacturing, automation, and AI,” said Dr. Sarah Martin, Dean of STEM at SFCC. “This grant positions us to expand our curriculum and prepare students with the skills they need to compete in tomorrow’s workforce.”
Development of SFCC’s academic programs is scheduled to take approximately 1 year, with the first student enrollment expected for Fall 2026.
AI Training for the Community
In addition to for-credit programs in development, Spokane Colleges will launch short-term workforce programs this fall to make AI education accessible to the broader community.
-
AI General
September 22 & 24, 5:30–7:30 p.m., $65
An accelerated two-day introduction to artificial intelligence covering machine learning, natural language processing, neural networks, and ethics. Students earn a Foundations of AI Credential upon completion.
-
AI in Healthcare
October 6 & 8, 5:30–7:30 p.m., $65
A two-day course for healthcare professionals and technologists on the real-world applications of AI in diagnostics, patient care, workflow automation, and predictive analytics. Students earn a Foundations of AI in Healthcare Credential upon completion.
The High Demand Enrollment Fund helps Washington’s community and technical colleges start or expand programs in fields where employers face persistent worker shortages. Grants can be used for equipment, curriculum development, faculty training, and other startup costs that quickly increase enrollment capacity in high-demand fields.
About Spokane Colleges - Spokane Community College and Spokane Falls Community College are part of Spokane Colleges, one of the largest higher education providers in Eastern Washington, serving about 20,000 students each year. Spokane Colleges provides higher education, early learning and corporate and continuing education services across a six-county region in northeastern Washington. Both colleges are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.