Grant partners from Georgia College and State University and Southern Utah University convene to advance rural higher education innovation
Athens State University recently welcomed partner institutions from across the nation as host of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) grant collaborative meeting. Representatives from Georgia College and State University (GCSU) and Southern Utah University (SUU) joined Athens State faculty and staff for a two-day summit focused on advancing the goals of the FUTURE project — Fostering Unity and Teamwork for Rural Excellence.
The FUTURE collaborative is funded through the NSF EPIIC grant program, which supports institutions in building research and industry partnership capacity and fostering collaborative networks. Athens State University, GCSU, and SUU were brought together by their shared commitment to serving rural communities and expanding access to high-quality higher education and research opportunities.
Over the course of the two-day gathering, participants engaged in in-depth strategy sessions designed to align project goals and map the path forward for the collaboration, now in its second year. Teams also dedicated time to sustainability planning, identifying long-term frameworks that will ensure the FUTURE initiative continues to create meaningful impact beyond the grant period.
The summit also offered an opportunity for relationship-building beyond the conference room. Partners attended a reception at a Rocket City Trash Pandas game, enjoying one of Huntsville’s newest traditions while strengthening the collegial connections that are central to the collaborative’s mission. As part of the evening at the Trash Panda’s, the NSF colleagues were able to interact with Athens State CORE Faculty Fellows and corporate partners, offering opportunities for faculty to network with industry to fuel ideas for workforce development and innovative technology.
“Hosting our FUTURE partners here at Athens State was an incredible opportunity to deepen the work we’re doing together on behalf of rural students and communities,” said Dr. Katie Holm, Principle Investigator of the FUTURE project. “The energy and commitment our colleagues from Georgia College and State University and Southern Utah University brought to these sessions reinforced that this collaboration is truly making a difference. We look forward to continuing this important work.”
Athens State University is proud to serve as the lead institution for this effort and remains committed to its role as a leader in rural higher education access, workforce development, and community partnership.