Applying Student Knowledge for Success in Cybersecurity and Data Science

该项目将通过支持基恩大学、新泽西理工学院、费尔利·狄金森大学、布鲁克代尔社区学院和联合县学院有经济需求的高成就、低收入学生的保留和毕业，满足国家对受过良好教育的科学家、数学家、工程师和技术人员的需求。特别是，它通过增加计算机科学（CS）和信息技术（IT）专业的毕业生数量来满足国家在网络安全和数据科学领域的需求。此外，该项目将增强区域劳动力实力，并为学生能力和归属感在确保坚持获得学位方面的作用的知识库做出贡献。在五年期间，共有 256 名学生将受益，获得完成 CS 或 IT 学位的奖学金。项目组成部分包括为学生提供奖学金支持、本科生研究和/或毕业前的专业经验机会，以及通过研究学生的经济现实以及对网络安全和数据科学职业轨迹的影响来生成新知识。该项目的学生将准备进入科学工作者或研究生院，成为有能力、训练有素、具有团队合作和研究背景的个人。此外，他们还将为提高 CS 和 IT 领域的专业多样性做出贡献，并成为社区成员的榜样。该项目招募的学生将参加研讨会，利用队列经验，并与教师密切互动，教师将提供 i) 学术建议，ii) 接受高等教育和研究生机会的指导，以及 iii) 团队合作、研究和工作专业经验的监督。通过参与教师研究项目和/或现有暑期研究和实习项目的本科生研究机会和经验，这些个人和群体的经历将为整体智力发展提供基础，并促进学生信心的增强、保留和及时完成学位。这些学术成果反过来又有望让学生成功应对常见的磨损点，包括经济困难和研究生就业和继续教育的专业身份发展。该项目的学术环境包括师生咨询和本科生研究活动，使用亲和研究小组（ARG）模型和同行指导。团队合作、协作和学生驱动的问答环节将积极支持计算机科学和信息技术领域有关教育影响和保留的研究，特别是针对少数族裔、女性和第一代学生。该项目由 NSF 科学、技术、工程和数学奖学金项目资助，该项目旨在增加具有经济需求的低收入学术才华学生获得 STEM 领域学位的数量。它还旨在改善未来 STEM 工作者的教育，并产生有关低收入学生的学业成功、保留、转学、毕业和学术/职业道路的知识。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will contribute to the national need for well-educated scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technicians by supporting the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need at Kean University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Brookdale Community College, and Union County College. In particular, it responds to areas of national need in cybersecurity and data science by increasing the number of students graduating in Computer Science (CS) and Information Technology (IT). Moreover, the project will build regional workforce strength and contribute to the knowledge base on the role of student competence and belonging in ensuring persistence to degree attainment. Over its five-year duration, a total of 256 students will benefit, receiving scholarships to complete CS or IT degrees. Project components include scholarship support for students, undergraduate research and/or professional experience opportunities prior to graduation, and generation of new knowledge through research on economic realities for students and impact on career trajectories in cybersecurity and data science. Students in this program will be prepared to enter the scientific workforce or graduate school as competent, highly trained individuals with a background in teamwork and research. Furthermore, they will contribute to increased professional diversity in the fields of CS and IT, and serve as role models to members of their communities. The students recruited for this program will participate in workshops, take advantage of cohort experiences, and interact closely with faculty who will provide i) academic advising, ii) guidance for navigating higher education and postgraduate opportunities, and iii) supervision of teamwork, research, and working professional experiences. Through undergraduate research opportunities and experiences from participation in faculty research programs and/or existing summer research and internship programs, these individual and cohort experiences will provide a basis for overall intellectual growth and promote increased student confidence, retention, and timely degree completion. These academic outcomes are in turn expected to allow students to successfully navigate common attrition points including financial hardship and professional identity development for post-graduate employment and continued education. The project's academic environment includes student-faculty advising and undergraduate research activities, using the Affinity Research Group (ARG) model and peer-mentoring. The use of teamwork, collaboration and student-motivated question and answer sessions will positively support research in the field of computer science and information technology regarding educational impact and retention, particularly for minorities, female, and first-generation students. This project is funded by NSF’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program, which seeks to increase the number of low-income academically talented students with demonstrated financial need who earn degrees in STEM fields. It also aims to improve the education of future STEM workers, and to generate knowledge about academic success, retention, transfer, graduation, and academic/career pathways of low-income students.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.