BCTC receives a 3-year National Science Foundation CAE Grant and Redesignation
Published on Aug 2, 2024
Lexington, KY – The Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) receives a $650,000 three-year
cybersecurity grant through the National Science Foundation and has been redesignated
as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) through our A.A.S. degree
in Computer & Information Technologies through 2028.
BCTC proposes utilizing the NSF ATE grant, titled Securing the Future Workforce: Inclusive Cybersecurity Technician Education for All to implement outreach, mentoring, and educational activities to encourage female and underrepresented students at college and high school students to enroll in and complete credentials at BCTC that will prepare them for the cybersecurity workforce.
Cybersecurity technicians are employed across a wide range of industries and are responsible for safeguarding computer systems and networks from cyber threats to ensure the protection and integrity of digital assets and systems. Despite growing demand for these skilled technicians, Kentucky’s postsecondary institutions attract and graduate a restricted demographic in cybersecurity. Broadening and diversifying this career pathway is critical if Kentucky employers are to find sufficient technicians with the skills and talents necessary to safeguard diverse economic sectors in an ever more connected cyber-world.
To address this problem several steps will be implemented by the Securing the Future Workforce: Inclusive Cybersecurity Technician Education for All grant, including:
- Hiring a part-time retention/recruitment specialist to support enrolled students and boost enrollment from diverse college populations.
- Implementing a near-peer mentoring program, where experienced cybersecurity students will guide and support first-year students.
- Launching an outreach program targeting 240 underrepresented and female students from five local schools, providing mentorship and education over the grant period.
- Recruit and educate 20 middle and high school teachers and counselors to enhance their understanding of cybersecurity, enabling them to better support dual credit students and spark interest among younger students.
- Evaluating learning outcomes across different cohorts to identify effective mentoring strategies.
This comprehensive initiative aims to create a robust pipeline of diverse talent in cybersecurity, spanning from middle school through college, by providing accurate information, hands-on learning experiences, and supportive mentorship.
“Receiving this grant will enable BCTC to provide essential support for both recruiting students interested in STEM fields and meeting the needs of our community partners,” said Dr. Greg Feeney, BCTC President/CEO. “We are committed to collaborating with our regional technical workforce stakeholders to expand access to a larger and more diverse cybersecurity workforce in central Kentucky, helping to address local demand. BCTC is the only KCTCS college with the CAE-CD designation, stressing our commitment to educating the cyber workforce.”
For more information about the NSF grants, please visit the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) website.
Learn more about BCTC’s Cybersecurity program or Computer & Information Technologies program or contact Dana Brown at dana.brown@kctcs.edu.
