In March 2025, Boise State University hosted a unique event aimed at empowering its faculty and staff to harness the power of AI. This event, called the ChatGPT Hackathon, took place at The Space in Albertson’s Library and attracted over 50 participants. It was a hands-on, three-hour workshop where attendees were encouraged to create their own custom AI tools, known as "generative pre-trained transformers" or GPTs, to boost learning and streamline operations.

Dan Rush, an associate professor for information technology management, played a key role in organizing the event. He shared that the inspiration for the Hackathon came from a campus book circle discussion about the book "Teaching with AI." During this discussion, Natalie Davidson from Boise State’s Educational Access Center demonstrated how she quickly developed a GPT to assess materials for accessibility. This sparked the idea for the Hackathon, as Rush saw the potential for more innovative moments like this.

The event was a collaborative effort, co-sponsored by the College of Business and Economics, the College of Innovation and Design, and the Center for Teaching and Learning. It brought together AI enthusiasts from across the campus to exchange ideas and insights. Alongside Rush, speakers included Kevin Rank, an AI fellow and lecturer, Steven Hyde, an assistant professor, and Josie Graham, director of public safety finance and administration. They covered topics like AI theory, current research, policy considerations, and effective prompt engineering. They also shared real-world examples of how AI is already being used in Boise State’s operations.

After the presentations, participants formed groups to develop reusable AI tools for various purposes such as communication, productivity, and education. Christina Nava, an educational development specialist, was among those who worked on creating GPTs during the Hackathon. By the end of the event, Boise State’s Office of Information Technology reported the creation of 40 new custom GPTs under the university’s ChatGPT Edu license.

The Hackathon received positive feedback from attendees. Noreen Beckie, an instructional design manager, found the presentations enlightening, especially the practical examples of using GPTs as personal assistants for routine tasks. Natalie Davison, assistant director of the Educational Access Center, praised the event as the best AI gathering she had attended, highlighting the value of experiential learning.

While there are no immediate plans for another Hackathon, Boise State continues to offer various AI resources for its community. These include an AI in Education website for faculty and staff, Staff AI Training Brown Bags focusing on AI from a staff perspective, the COBE AI Brown Bag series for faculty, staff, and students, and the Social Impacts of Computing series for faculty. These resources ensure that the Boise State community stays informed and engaged with the latest developments in AI.