Building Cyber Capacity in the Northwest and Beyond

Whatcom社区学院（WCC）提议通过三项相互关联的努力，扩大其网络安全项目和劳动力能力建设工作，以支持从高中到学院和大学的学生管道，包括在线学习。该项目将通过高中夏令营和竞赛来建立渠道，为大学生提供指导机会，为高中生提供获得大学学分的机会，并与行业接触，最终目标是将项目嵌入地区高中，以发挥最大的影响。WCC已被国家安全局和国土安全部指定为国家网络安全学术卓越中心。它也是“西部网络观察”（Cyber Watch West）的牵头机构，这是一个由美国国家科学基金会（NSF）先进技术教育项目资助的网络安全教育区域中心。拟议的努力将利用这些项目，并为学生准备关键网络安全行业领域的新兴主题，包括工业控制系统、安全云计算、移动技术和网络开发。该项目的目标是：(1)开发并提供网络应用科学在线学士学位，包括安全课程、嵌入式证书和远程实验室访问；(2)为在WCC或附近的西华盛顿大学攻读课程的学生制定一个高年级支持/导航员计划；(3)利用现有的高中生网络安全训练营，包括参加全国高中竞赛“网络爱国者”。该项目将为工业界和政府的雇主提供合格的网络和网络安全专业人员，以满足劳动力需求。它将为成功完成网络安全训练营的高中生提供大学学分，并将确保行业参与课程和项目开发。该项目强调学习和软技能，采用以人为本的设计方法，关注每个学生的个人需求，强调人际交往能力、批判性思维和客户服务。

Whatcom Community College (WCC) proposes to expand upon its cybersecurity programs and workforce capacity-building efforts through a trio of interrelated efforts that support the student pipeline from high school through college and university, including online learning. The project will build the pipeline through high school camps and competitions that offer mentorship opportunities for college students, opportunities for high school students to earn college credit, and exposure to industry, with the ultimate goal of embedding programs in regional high schools for maximum impact. WCC has been designated by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in cybersecurity. It is also the lead institution for Cyber Watch West, a regional center for cybersecurity education funded by the NSF's Advanced Technological Education program. The proposed efforts will leverage these projects and prepare students for emerging topics in key cybersecurity industry sectors including industrial control systems, secure cloud computing, mobile technology, and web development. The goals of this project are to: (1) develop and offer an online bachelor of applied science degree in networking, which will include security-infused coursework, embedded certificates, and remote lab accessibility; (2) develop an upper division support/navigator program for students pursuing their programs at WCC or at nearby Western Washington University; and (3) leverage current cybersecurity camps for high school students by including participation in the national high school competition Cyber Patriot. The project will provide employers in both industry and government with qualified networking and cybersecurity professionals to meet the workforce demands. It will offer college credit to high school students successfully completing the cybersecurity camp and will ensure industry participation in curriculum and program development. The program emphasizes study and soft skills using a human-centered design approach that focuses on the individual needs of each student and emphasizes interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and customer service.