CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (Renewal): Preparing Gulf Coast Cyber Scholars

该奖项支持南阿拉巴马大学(美国)的CyberCorps®：服务奖学金(SFS)项目的继续，该项目旨在促进网络安全教育和研究的卓越，为毕业生在联邦政府执行人员中担任关键的网络安全职位做准备。该项目将支持20名学生，包括3年制本科到硕士、2年制硕士和3年制博士生，它建立在该机构对网络安全教育和研究的坚定承诺基础上。例如，美国的本科生计算机科学和信息技术课程、计算机科学和信息系统硕士课程以及计算博士课程都包括网络安全内容。这些学术途径培养出的毕业生可以担任从网络安全分析师到高级网络安全研究人员的各种网络安全职位。美国有满足多样化学生群体需求的记录，而且很高比例的学生来自农村或经济困难地区。此外，在目前的学者队伍中，34%的CyberCorps®学生是女性，16%的学生是在该领域追求职业生涯的少数族裔成员。项目团队希望通过增加有针对性的招聘、社区意识和K-12 STEM长期外展工作来保持并超过这种多样性。美国项目建立在四个基础之上：1)南阿拉巴马大学及其计算学院(SoC)的资源，2)SoC内的学术项目，3)SoC项目中成熟而动态的网络安全课程，以及支持网络安全研究和教育的经验丰富的教师，以及4)专注于取证、信息技术和网络安全的充满活力的研究中心的实力。美国学者受益于核心的网络安全基础课程和前沿的网络安全研究。该项目的目标是在四个群体中招聘并毕业20名学生。美国的项目团队提供量身定制的学术和研究指导，目标是实现100%的项目完成和网络安全职位安置，重点是联邦行政人员队伍中的就业。项目目标的成功与否将通过内部和外部评估进行评估。该项目由CyberCorps®服务奖学金(SFS)计划支持，该计划为建立或继续开展网络安全奖学金计划的提案提供资金，并与美国国家网络战略保持一致，以培养一支优秀的网络安全队伍。毕业后，奖学金获得者被要求在联邦、州、地方或部落政府组织的网络安全工作中工作，时间与他们的奖学金支持相同。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award supports the continuation of the CyberCorps®: Scholarship for Service (SFS) project at the University of South Alabama (USA) that promotes cybersecurity education and research excellence to prepare graduates to work in critical cybersecurity positions within the federal government's executive workforce. This project will support 20 students, with a mix of 3-year undergraduate-to-masters, 2-year masters, and 3-year doctoral students, and it builds on the institution's strong commitment to cybersecurity education and research. For example, cybersecurity components are included in USA’s undergraduate Computer Science and Information Technology programs, master’s level Computer Science and Information Systems programs, and a doctoral program in Computing. These academic paths produce graduates who can fill a wide range of cybersecurity positions, from network security analysts to advanced cybersecurity researchers. USA has a record of meeting the needs of a diverse student body, and a high percentage of the students come from rural or financially depressed areas. Moreover, in the current cohort of scholars, 34% of CyberCorps® students are female, and 16% are members of ethnic groups that are underrepresented in their pursuit of careers in the field. The project team expects to maintain and exceed this diversity during this renewal award by increasing targeted recruiting, community awareness, and long-term K-12 STEM outreach efforts.The USA program builds upon four foundations: 1) the resources of the University of South Alabama and its School of Computing (SoC), 2) the academic programs within the SoC, 3) a mature and dynamic cybersecurity curriculum across SoC programs along with experienced faculty who support both cybersecurity research and education, and 4) the strength of a vibrant research center focused on forensics, information technology, and cybersecurity. USA's scholars benefit from core fundamental cybersecurity coursework and cutting-edge cybersecurity research. The project aims to recruit and graduate 20 students over four cohorts. USA's project team provides tailored academic and research mentorship with a goal to achieve 100% program completion and placement into cybersecurity positions with a targeted focus on employment within the federal executive workforce. The success of program objectives will be assessed using both internal and external reviews.This project is supported by the CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) program, which funds proposals establishing or continuing scholarship programs in cybersecurity and aligns with the U.S. National Cyber Strategy to develop a superior cybersecurity workforce. Following graduation, scholarship recipients are required to work in cybersecurity for a federal, state, local, or tribal Government organization for the same duration as their scholarship support.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.