Cougar Tracks Expands Generative AI Workshop Series to Meet Growing Community Demand

Following the success of the inaugural “Generative AI Essentials: Workplace Applications and Ethical Use” workshop, Washington State University Tri-Cities’ continuing education program Cougar Tracks will host a second session, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2 on the WSU Tri-Cities campus.

The first session drew 34 participants representing 10 regional organizations, including the City of Richland, Port of Kennewick, Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Tri-Cities Cancer Center, Gesa Credit Union and more. Several companies sent multiple team members, highlighting growing organizational investment in AI skill-building.

Feedback from participants underscored both the timeliness and the value of the training. Many noted that the workshop provided hands-on practice with AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT and fostered important conversations about ethics, workplace integration and the future of regional workforce competitiveness.

“Cougar Tracks is proud to lead the way in offering applied AI education that meets the real needs of our community,” said Michelle Hrycauk Nassif, director of Cougar Tracks. “What makes our workshops different is the engagement across industries — from health care and government to construction and small business. We’re creating a learning hub where professionals learn from one another as much as they learn from the instructor.”

One participant echoed this impact, stating, “This workshop gave me the confidence to start using AI tools right away in my work. It was eye-opening to see how other industries are approaching the same challenges, and I walked away with practical strategies I can apply immediately.”

Another participant who attended with a team said, “Some members of my team are experts in artificial intelligence; others hadn’t used it. No matter the skill level, we all came away with helpful information and techniques to responsibly and ethically use AI in the workplace.”

In addition to the upcoming workshop on Oct. 2, more generative AI workshops are planned to meet growing demand. The Cougar Tracks program will launch an AI-focused workshop series in 2026. Individuals interested in continuing education and professional development from WSU Tri-Cities can sign up for the Cougar Tracks newsletter on the website to receive program updates.

Registration for the Oct. 2 workshop is now open.