On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, Tusculum University’s Business Division will launch a one‑day AI Boot Camp designed to help entrepreneurs, small‑business owners, nonprofit leaders and other professionals turn everyday tasks into more efficient, AI‑powered workflows. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Room 111 of the Meen Center on the Greeneville campus and is priced at $49.

Unlike a lecture series, the boot camp is a hands‑on workshop. Participants will bring laptops and practice with a range of generative‑AI tools—ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, NotebookLM and Loveable AI—without any coding experience required. “AI presents multiple ways to economize a person’s time and achieve excellent results in the business world,” said David Hite, associate professor of business and the boot camp’s lead instructor. “Tusculum has consulted with many experts in the field and been on the cutting edge of educating people on the benefits of AI. This boot camp is another way we will assist the business community as part of the university’s commitment to civic engagement.”

The curriculum focuses on immediately applicable skills:

Writing prompts that generate useful business results Creating social‑media content, emails, blogs and video scripts in minutes Using AI as a strategic partner to solve business challenges Generating proposals, operating procedures, job descriptions and other documents * Researching competitors, markets and industry trends

At the day’s end, attendees receive an AI prompt guide, competitor‑research tools, business‑writing templates, website‑development resources, marketing templates and a 30‑day AI action plan.

The boot camp follows Tusculum’s first Appalachian AI Summit, held in March 2026, which brought together educators, business owners, nonprofit representatives and workforce‑development professionals. Tusculum has positioned itself as a regional leader in AI education.

“We welcome this opportunity to share valuable information about AI with those in business who want to take their ideas and companies to the next level,” said Dr. John Alpers, dean of the School of Business, Education and Sport. “David Hite has successfully embraced AI and is helping people understand how they can enhance their business operations by using these tools. His expertise will help participants discover how they can strengthen their business with ethical and sound AI practices.”

Registration is available online at https://ws.tusculum.edu/forms/ai-business-bootcamp/. Attendees are asked to bring a laptop for the workshop. For questions, participants can email Hite at dhite@tusculum.edu.

Tusculum University is a private Presbyterian institution founded in 1794, making it the oldest university in Tennessee and the 28th‑oldest operating college in the United States. Its main campus is in Tusculum, Tennessee, with additional centers for adult and online studies in Knoxville and Morristown.

This boot camp is part of a broader trend of universities offering AI‑focused training for business professionals. By providing hands‑on instruction with popular generative‑AI tools, Tusculum aims to equip local entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders with skills that can improve productivity, streamline operations and support strategic decision‑making.

The single‑day format, low cost and practical focus distinguish the event from other AI training programs that may require longer commitments or more technical prerequisites. Participants who complete the boot camp will leave with resources that can be applied to marketing, operations, human resources and market research, all framed within an ethical use of AI.

The boot camp is expected to attract a mix of local business owners, nonprofit staff and regional professionals. By combining hands‑on practice with guidance from experienced AI educators, Tusculum University is positioning itself as a hub for AI literacy in the Appalachian region.

For more information about Tusculum University and its AI initiatives, visit www.tusculum.edu.