This year, the University of Michigan is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its Academic Innovation Fund. This fund has supported nearly 400 faculty-led projects from all 19 schools and colleges across the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor campus and led to a uniquely broad set of outcomes, including the creation of the university’s extensive portfolio of open online learning experiences, educational technologies supporting student success and many research publications, along with new innovations in areas like generative AI and extended reality.
James DeVaney, special adviser to the president at U-M, the founding executive director of the U-M Center for Academic Innovation and associate vice provost for academic innovation, designed and created the fund and leads the unit charged with stewarding it. I asked James to reflect on how the AIF came to be, what it has enabled, what the next 10 years will bring and what other universities might take from this work.
James DeVaney
Q: You were charged with creating and sustaining a culture of innovation in learning at the University of Michigan. How has the Academic Innovation Fund played a role in establishing that culture?
A: When we launched the Academic Innovation Fund in 2014, our objective was clear: to cultivate a sustainable, innovative and collaborative educational environment at the University of Michigan. Early conversations with leadership highlighted how critical it is to support faculty innovators willing to take bold, creative steps to enhance teaching and learning. We envisioned a flexible and responsive fund that would enable innovators across campus to experiment, iterate and scale their ideas. The AIF was designed to provide faculty with financial resources, expertise from our organization and opportunities for collaboration, creating a coordinated pathway for innovations to flourish and scale across campus and around the world.
The AIF fosters a culture of innovation through partnership rather than a top-down approach. It empowers faculty and staff to take ownership of their projects, aligning them with our vision of a future where education connects and empowers learners. By pairing the expertise of [the Center for Academic Innovation] with the AIF, we encourage continual collaboration and co-creation. The fund also supports student fellowships, ensuring innovations are developed with the active participation of faculty, staff and students.
As a result, we’ve established deep, sustainable partnerships across all 19 schools and colleges at U-M, which have had a clear impact in our classrooms and in support of life-changing education around the world.
Other institutions aiming to support and scale academic innovation can begin by creating flexible funding mechanisms that incentivize experimentation and yield evidence about key outcomes and return on investment. These mechanisms should pair financial resources with cross-departmental expertise. Starting with small initiatives allows institutions to identify key areas for testing and scaling innovations. This approach helps foster shared ownership of academic innovation across departments.
Q: The educational landscape today is significantly different than it was 10 years ago. What impact have the Academic Innovation Fund and the Center for Academic Innovation had on the University of Michigan over this period?
A: Over the past decade, the educational landscape has presented new challenges and opportunities. The pressure to educate a diverse population has grown, even as public financial support has dwindled. The information age and the rise of generative AI have transformed university operations, offering immense opportunities for innovation. These trends affect every institution, signaling that the social contract for universities is ripe for renewal.
During this transformative period, the AIF has had a profound and positive impact on U-M. We’ve fostered innovation at the heart of our mission: delivering a world-class education to diverse learners locally and globally. We’ve supported nearly 400 projects involving over 400 faculty innovators, affecting nearly every facet of teaching and learning at the university, from advancing online learning to transforming residential education delivery.
While not every institution can match U-M’s scale, the principle of faculty-led experimentation is universally applicable. Smaller institutions can ignite sustainable change through even modest investments in faculty innovation.
The benefits of academic innovation run deep. Strategic investments in flexible, scalable models for teaching and learning have made us antifragile—stronger in the face of disruption and prepared for new opportunities. U-M’s design and delivery capabilities and digital infrastructure, built in part through the AIF, allowed us to adapt quickly when COVID-19 hit. These same capabilities and infrastructure are now helping us navigate the rise of AI and other technological advancements. For example, we’ve partnered with faculty to create over 35 open online courses on generative AI in the workplace this year alone. Through AIF-supported projects, we’ve now reached over 20 million enrollments with learners across the globe.
Through the collaborative efforts supported by the AIF, U-M has become more future-proof, demonstrating resilience and readiness for future opportunities and unexpected challenges. The lesson for other institutions is clear: Investing in flexible, scalable models is essential for long-term resilience and future positioning.
We’re committed to sharing our work with other institutions and the broader community. Whether creating new online offerings, developing educational technologies or researching innovative learning interventions, we openly share our findings, aligning with U-M’s public mission. I like to think of our approach as OpenSource U—a model where AIF-supported initiatives not only transform U-M but advance knowledge and build capacity across higher education.
Q: Academic innovation clearly plays an important role in helping any institution thrive. What are your predictions about the role it will play at Michigan over the next decade?
A: Looking ahead, academic innovation will be pivotal to Michigan’s ability to thrive and lead in an ever-evolving educational landscape. The university’s recently announced Vision 2034 provides a compelling road map, with the AIF and the center playing essential roles in achieving our ambitious goals for life-changing education.
Over the next decade, we aim to significantly expand the reach and impact of our academic innovation efforts. We’ll grow our portfolio of online and hybrid degree programs to increase access to high-quality education for a diverse, global student body. Leveraging cutting-edge educational technologies will enhance learning experiences for millions worldwide. We also plan to strengthen strategic partnerships with companies and organizations to meet workforce development needs and create avenues for sustainable growth and revenue generation. Through these initiatives, we aspire to co-anchor a global network of institutions and thought leaders dedicated to advancing learning innovation through both scholarship and practice.
As Michigan continues to adapt to shifting student preferences and workforce demands, the AIF will ensure we are not only responding to these changes but actively shaping the future of higher education. I am incredibly excited about our future and confident that we have built a foundation to drive transformative educational advancements at Michigan for years to come.
As higher education continues to evolve, academic innovation strategies will be essential for institutions to adapt to change and actively shape their futures. Whether at a large public university like Michigan or a smaller institution, the principles of the AIF—empowering faculty, fostering collaboration, building resilience and expanding access—can be widely applied. The next decade will present unprecedented challenges and opportunities, but by sharing ideas and learning from each other, we can ensure higher education continues to thrive.