EPIIC @champlain

Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity

EPIIC Supports the growth of innovation ecosystems through capacity-building efforts at institutions of higher education with limited research capacity — preparing these institutions to participate in NSF Regional Innovation Engines

News

Our cohort will present a poster and/or workshop at the Society for Experiential Education (SEE) Conference in September 2025. Title: Increasing Capacity to Integrate Experiential Learning Opportunities in Capstone Experiences at PUIs.
Feature in NSF EPIIC Newsletter (coming June 2025).
Partnership Networking Event Summer 2025 (more info coming soon).
Anthropic Partnership (Champlain press release | Anthropic press release); Argosy Foundation funding (AI Fellowships).
Champlain College was noted as an institution that is pressing forward with funding opportunities related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) partnerships in higher education in the Chronicle of Higher Education in March 2025.
Our cohort presented at a Congressional Showcase on AI Education and Workforce Development on Capitol Hill on September 19th 2024, hosted by the NSF in conjunction with the House and Senate AI Caucuses. Our One Page describes the first year work under EPIIC as presented to Congress.
Champlain College and our cohort partners were highlighted in a Chronicle of Higher Education article that explores, in part, how colleges can collaborate/partner together on AI innovation.
Staff/Center focus groups in Summer 2024 discussed institutional-level partnership activities and is detailed in this report (internal access only).
Faculty focus groups in Spring 2024 addressed past, current, and aspirational partnerships and is detailed in this report (internal access only).
Our NCURA review regarding Research Administration processes and policies occurred in Fall 2024, with the final report provided in early 2025. We are assessing and prioritizing recommendations made in the final report, which have been disseminated internally as appropriate.

Project Synopsis

Website: To inform community members about our work related to the NSF EPIIC grant and to help the team organize grant content and documentation.
Synopsis: Building the capacity of three Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) to sustainably increase the number of partnerships to drive workforce development.
What are we really doing? A three-year project to collectively identify best practices of successful model institutions, review and address institutional strengths and needs, and develop structure at each institution for engaging in sustainable partnerships by piloting industry partnerships. We will also work to improve the infrastructure necessary to apply for further funding to sustain these efforts beyond the timeframe of the project.
Funding: $400,000 per institution = $1.2 million
Timeframe: October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2026
Champlain College Team Members:
- Dr. Brian Hall - Principle Investigator, Professor of Computer Science (hall@champlain.edu)
- Dr. Cyndi Brandenburg - Senior Personnel, Assistant Provost and Professor in the Core Division
- Sarah Jerger - Senior Personnel, Director of the Emergent Media Center (EMC)

Timeline

Fall 2023

Begin researching potential model institutions and establish NCURA review process/timeline
Begin gathering information on where our institutions are in terms of partnership processes - Faculty and Staff survey prep
Create (this) website and other communication channels, both internal and external, related to grant work

Spring/Summer 2024

Exploring model institutions, NCURA prep, and EPIIC cohort communication
Research and identify best practices based on model institutions and NCURA standards
Discover and publish reports on current activities of faculty, staff, and centers with external partners - Focus groups
Year 1 NSF report
Begin seeking out potential further funding opportunities

Fall 2024

Develop a Champlain-specific model (processes, flowcharts, content) for navigating partner relationships
Begin developing templates for communication and management of partnerships
Courting potential partners for first pilot (targeted for emerging STEAM fields and workforce development)
NCURA site visit

Spring/Summer 2025

Continue developing templates for communication and management of partnerships
Select first partnership pilot, debrief, and iterate/adapt model - Networking events
Review and disseminate NCURA recommendations
Year 2 NSF report
Applying for further funding

Fall 2025

Continue to adapt institutional structures and materials for sustaining and maintaining partnerships
Run first partnership pilot, debrief, and iterate/adapt model
Court potential partners for second pilot (targeted for emerging STEAM fields and workforce development)

Spring/Summer 2026

Run second partnership pilot, debrief, and fine tune institutional models
Share learned expertise with our communities and general public at large
Final NSF report
Secure further funding

Other tasks that will take place at various times during the grant period include:

Training in needed areas identified by engaging with the model institutions and NCURA
Implementing software to assist in partnership and/or funding management
Networking events to discuss opportunities with potential partners
Faculty workshop(s) on our grant process, grant writing, and grant management

NSF Links

NSF EPIIC Award Page: https://nsf-epiic.org/research | Champlain/Cohort page

Champlain College Award 2331431: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2331431

EPIIC 23-265 Solicitation: https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/enabling-partnerships-increase-innovation-capacity

Press Coverage

Chronicle of Higher Education: https://www.chronicle.com/article/trump-administration-wants-ai-dominance-but-lays-siege-to-key-grant-agency

Anthropic Partnership: https://www.champlain.edu/2025/03/25/champlain-college-collaborates-with-anthropic-to-advance-ai-in-higher-ed/

Champlain College View: https://www.champlain.edu/2024/09/23/professor-brian-hall-presents-on-ai-to-congress-in-dc/

Chronicle of Higher Education: https://store.chronicle.com/products/adapting-to-ai

NSF Announcement: https://new.nsf.gov/tip/updates/nsf-invests-emerging-research-institutions

Vermont Biz: https://vermontbiz.com/news/2023/october/03/national-science-foundation-awards-champlain-college-400k

Champlain College View: https://view.champlain.edu/2023/10/04/champlain-awarded-first-direct-national-science-foundation-grant/