A new course offered at a local college campus will cater to non-techies looking to boost their businesses through generative artificial technology.

Generative AI may seem daunting to the average person, but Collin College’s new course, “Generative AI for the Rest of Us,” aims to break through this mindset.

The course focuses on helping students with various skills and backgrounds wield the power of AI through simple concepts, hands-on learning, and real-world applications, per the college’s website.

The course stems from the data science certificate series offered through the institution’s non-degree Continuing Education (CE) program. The instructor for the first course is Yeshwant Muthusamy, owner and principal consultant of Yeshvik Solutions, LLC.

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“The course provides the tools and knowledge to navigate the digital transformation driven by AI technologies like ChatGPT,” explained Muthusamy in a press release. “This course has no programming or technical prerequisites — it is appropriate for anyone interested in learning more about Generative AI.”

Sessions for this 12-hour course will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Plano campus on Tuesdays.

The deadline to enroll in the course is January 23, and anyone wishing to take part can contact the CE coordinators by email at [email protected] or by phone at 972-985-3711.

Collin College has put a lot of effort into developing short, flexible certificate programs in high-demand fields, such as AI and biotechnology. Last summer, it rolled out a new biotechnology boot camp catering to those looking to break into entry-level positions in the biotechnology field, as previously covered by The Dallas Express.

Also, in line with the institution’s expansion efforts, it has added several dual enrollment opportunities for high school students in partner public school systems, such as Frisco and Prosper ISDs. This has allowed Collin College’s student body to grow by nearly 8% and help prepare high schoolers for their future pursuits in higher education.

The readiness of high school students for endeavors like college, the military, and the workforce has come under scrutiny as of late, not just in Texas but nationwide. Last year, ACT college admissions test administrators announced the lowest average composite scores since 1991.

In Dallas ISD, students not only scored below the state average of 65% in college, career, and military readiness (CCMR) at just 59% in the 2021-2022 school year, but only 81.1% of the district’s graduating Class of 2022 earned a degree within four years, according to the Texas Education Agency’s accountability report.

By comparison, Frisco ISD and Prosper ISD hit 75% and 77% in CCMR that same school year, respectively. Meanwhile, 99% of Frisco ISD’s graduating class and 99.4% of Prosper ISD’s earned a diploma within four years.