UA Little Rock Receives Nearly $3 Million Grant to Create AI-Powered Simulation Center
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business, Health, and Human Services (CBHHS) has received a nearly $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to create a new simulation center that will help students build professional skills through immersive, hands-on learning experiences before entering internships, clinical settings, and the workforce.
The five-year grant will support Professional Readiness through Immersive Simulation Models, or PRISM, an initiative to establish an Interprofessional AI Simulation Center serving undergraduate and graduate students in the college.
The center will provide students with a critical bridge between classroom learning and real-world professional experiences. Students will be able to apply what they have learned in a low-stakes simulation environment, giving them opportunities to practice decision-making, communication, problem-solving, and other professional skills before entering internships, field placements, clinicals, and the workforce.
“This grant gives us an incredible opportunity to strengthen the connection between what students learn in the classroom and how they apply it in the real world,” said Dr. Ginger Gummelt, dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services. “Simulation gives students a place to practice, make decisions, receive feedback, and build confidence before they enter a professional setting. By embedding these experiences throughout our college, we can make experiential learning an even stronger part of how we prepare our graduates.”
PRISM will serve students across the college’s five schools in disciplines including business, criminal justice, social work, counseling, human performance and rehabilitation, and nursing.
“The exciting part of this project is our ability to use emerging technologies to create experiences that feel authentic to the situations students will encounter in their professions,” said Dr. Ahmed Halimeh, director of the Emerging Analytics Center. “Working alongside faculty across the college, we can build simulations that give students opportunities to practice, experiment, and learn in ways that simply aren’t possible in a traditional classroom.”
Over the five-year grant period, UA Little Rock plans to develop more than 21 AI-enhanced simulation scenarios. The project will also integrate AI literacy into the curriculum, provide extensive faculty development, create stackable credentials validated by employers, and support research into the effectiveness of simulation-based learning.
“This project brings together several of UA Little Rock’s strengths: innovative teaching, emerging technology, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a strong focus on preparing students for successful careers,” said Dr. Ann Bain, provost and executive vice chancellor. “PRISM will allow faculty to create learning experiences that are directly connected to the skills students will need after graduation. It is an exciting investment not only in technology, but in student success and workforce readiness.”
Simulation will serve as a middle layer in students’ professional preparation. After learning concepts and skills in the classroom, students can test and strengthen those abilities through realistic simulations before applying them in higher-stakes professional environments like internships and project-based experiences.
The approach also allows faculty to create experiences that may be difficult to replicate consistently in traditional classroom or field settings. Students could encounter realistic workplace situations, interact with AI-driven scenarios, practice professional judgment, and receive feedback in a controlled learning environment.
Through PRISM, simulation will become a more intentional part of the student experience across CBHHS, helping students move from learning concepts to practicing them and, ultimately, applying them in their professions.
Learn more about CBHHS and its various offerings and programs online.