Project Grant 2622881

The National Science Foundation Division of Graduate Education awarded the University of Utah $128,070 on August 15, 2026, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to develop adoptable educational materials for AI auditing competency in undergraduate and graduate computing programs.

The project will create a theory-guided education package comprising six modular curriculum units covering AI auditing frameworks, model assessment, and continuous model auditing. Deliverables include an AI audit competency framework aligned with federal guidance and established cybersecurity education structures; hands-on laboratory exercises using real-world datasets, auditing libraries, and audit documentation workflows; competency-based assessments featuring scenario-based tasks, reports, rubrics, and tests; and validated evaluation instruments measuring student learning, instructor usability, adoption, and sustainability. Students will practice evidence collection, risk assessment, mitigation implementation, and professional reporting to develop capacity to examine AI systems, identify risks, document findings, and communicate judgments about their trustworthiness, accountability, and security.

The performance period runs through July 31, 2029, with work performed in Salt Lake City, Utah. The award addresses the gap between current AI and cybersecurity curricula and the national need for professionals capable of auditing AI systems across health care, finance, education, and national security applications.