ABERDEEN, S.D. — Northern State University partnered with the Huron Community Campus in Huron, S.D., to offer a hands-on workshop on ChatGPT and artificial intelligence tools to community members on April 8 and 15, drawing 43 participants from a wide range of career fields including education, law enforcement, banking and healthcare.

The workshop was led by Dr. Amanda Garrison, assistant professor of marketing at Northern State University, and was offered face-to-face on the Huron campus. Participants also gained access to the Practical ChatGPT Prompts and Study Agents Micro-Credential, an online self-paced course that complements the in-person instruction. Upon completing both the workshop and micro-credential, participants earned a digital badge verifying their new AI skills. The badge contains metadata linking to the AI competencies explored and can be shared on professional platforms such as LinkedIn and digital resumes.

"The real magic wasn't the technology — it was the conversations that were sparked and seeing community members in the room realizing they could use it in their own work and lives," said Dr. Amanda Garrison, assistant professor of marketing at Northern State University.

The workshop is part of a broader effort by Northern State University to expand workforce-relevant learning opportunities beyond the Aberdeen campus and into communities across the region. The initiative was also a pilot project to explore how NSU's existing micro-credential program could be made accessible to community members outside the university.

Empowering Innovators is NSU's approach to preparing learners for what's next. Through industry-aligned digital micro-credentials, the program transforms learning into skills employers can see and trust. Designed to be flexible and future-focused, Empowering Innovators helps learners showcase their achievements beyond the transcript, turning academic rigor into verifiable credentials that support career growth and lifelong learning. The program offers more than 35 free micro-credentials covering topics ranging from generative AI and design thinking to adaptive leadership and LinkedIn networking. To date, more than 4,000 badges have been awarded to over 1,900 unique earners.

"Micro-credentials strengthen higher education by connecting academic learning to workforce-relevant skills for learners of all ages," said Jennifer Deutsch, director of Empowering Innovators at Northern State University.

For more information about NSU's Empowering Innovators micro-credential program, contact Jennifer Deutsch, at jennifer.deutsch@northern.edu or 605-626-2108.