Del Mar College Receives $3 Million Federal Grant

Del Mar College

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (News Release) - Del Mar College (DMC) has received a five-year, $3 million federal grant to strengthen teaching and digital learning and help prepare students for a workforce increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.

The Del Mar College: Classroom to Career (DMC C2C) project begins Oct. 1, 2026, and is funded through the Title III Part A Strengthening Institutions Program administered through the U.S. Department of Labor.

At the center of the project is the creation of a new Center for Educational Advancement within DMC’s Learning Resources Division. The Center will provide faculty with support and training in teaching, course design and instructional technology, helping them adapt as new tools and technologies change teaching and learning. 

“This investment gives Del Mar College an opportunity to strengthen how we support teaching and learning while preparing our students for a workforce that continues to change with technology,” said Dr. Gerald Nápoles, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Technology will continue to shape the way our students learn and the careers they enter. This project will help us give our faculty and students the support they need to adapt to those changes and use new tools responsibly.”

Artificial intelligence will be one part of the larger Classroom to Career project. Faculty will have opportunities to learn how AI and other emerging technologies can be used responsibly in teaching and incorporated into coursework where appropriate. The project also will strengthen DMC’s online and hybrid courses and the support available to faculty who teach them.

“This grant aligns with Del Mar College’s vision to expand faculty knowledge and effective use of artificial intelligence while strengthening our e-learning capabilities,” said Dr. Jonda Halcomb, vice president and chief academic officer. “By identifying the need for a faculty learning center that provides dedicated resources, professional development and ongoing support for the integration of emerging technologies, the College can advance AI-related initiatives supporting teaching excellence and student success in both traditional and online learning environments.”

DMC also will incorporate responsible AI use into selected high-demand programs identified by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The specific programs will be selected as the project moves forward. Faculty will work with project staff and industry partners to identify appropriate AI tools and develop learning activities that align with course outcomes and changing workforce expectations.

“Classroom to Career is about building the support our faculty and students need as teaching, learning and the workplace continue to evolve,” said Cody Gregg, dean of Learning Resources. “The Center for Educational Advancement will provide a dedicated structure for faculty development, while the broader project will strengthen online learning and help us thoughtfully incorporate responsible AI use into selected programs and coursework.”

The project also includes plans to support students as they learn to use AI and other digital tools responsibly. The goal is to help students understand how emerging technologies can be used as part of their education and future careers. Specific student resources and activities will be developed as the project moves forward.

“Artificial intelligence is changing quickly, and part of our responsibility is helping our College community understand how to use these tools thoughtfully and responsibly,” said Ali Kolahdouz, DMC’s vice president and chief information officer. “This project gives us an opportunity to build AI literacy alongside the broader digital skills our faculty and students need, while being intentional about how those technologies are incorporated into teaching and learning.”

Through Classroom to Career, Del Mar College will use the five-year investment to strengthen the connection between teaching, technology and the skills students will need as they move from college into the workforce.