GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A new course at Grand Rapids Community College aims to help students learn about artificial intelligence by using the technology to solve real-world business problems.
The creation of the new course, set to launch in winter 2026, was supported through a three-year, $438,685 grant from the National Science Foundation, NSF. The course is open to students in GRCC’s associate of applied sciences program and its AI certificate program.
In a release, the college said its grant application was supported by 20 local businesses, including Gentex, TwistThink and the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The businesses have pledged to work with students who will use business data to develop an AI project such as a chatbot that interacts with customers, or a program that automates social media posts or summarizes customer data.
“This rapidly emerging technology can transform the way businesses process data and information,” Kristi Haik, dean of GRCC’s School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, said in a statement. “We want to help our local business partners understand and apply the technology. We also want to create real experiences for our students so they enter the workforce with demonstrated competence in AI applications.”
In a release, GRCC said it was one of 45 recipients awarded the competitive grant.
“The capstone course will span seven weeks and serve as the culmination of students’ AI education at GRCC,” the college said in a release. “While not an internship, the course will provide valuable experience working end-to-end on a live AI model — from problem scoping and data gathering to deployment of an AI solution.”
GRCC said it expects to educate 60 students through the capstone course over the grant’s lifespan, which is expected to run for three years.
“By connecting with our West Michigan business community, we can structure education that meets their workforce readiness needs,” said Jonnathan Resendiz, an assistant professor at GRCC who serves as the faculty director of the college’s AI Incubator. “Our students will have experience creating a live application, and the company benefits from the result.”
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