A Cybersecurity Preparation Academy (C-PREP) for Buffalo Students and Teachers

布法罗大都会地区的公司在软件、IT、网络安全、网络和数据分析领域雇用了37，000多名员工。这些公司依靠网络安全技术人员来保护计算机系统和网络免受盗窃和破坏。该区域迫切需要网络安全技术人员，因为供应跟不上迅速增长的需求。该项目的目标是在一个高度贫困地区创建一个教育途径，以培养能够帮助解决这一劳动力需求的网络安全技术人员。这将通过在两所合作高中设计和实施双招生课程来实现，这将导致中学后网络安全计划的入学。毕业后，学生将获得高等教育证书或网络安全AAS学位，使他们有资格成为网络安全领域的技术人员。该项目的目标包括（1）与高中合作伙伴实施双招生课程，（2）为高中和大学教师提供专业发展，以改善技术人员教育，（3）营销该计划，（4）让学生参加可堆叠的行业认证课程，（5）通过个性化的支持和指导促进学生的成功，以及（6）通过基于工作的学习机会加强学生与劳动力的联系。一项定性研究将考察学生对双招生计划的好处的看法，以加速进入劳动力市场，以及针对代表性不足群体的同伴支持的有效性。该项目是与网络安全ATE中心NCyTE协商开发的，其广泛的影响力将被利用来传播项目材料和发现。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为先进技术提供技术人员的教育，该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为是值得通过使用基金会的学术价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

Companies in the Buffalo metropolitan area employ more than 37,000 workers in the software, IT, cybersecurity, networking, and data analytics fields. These companies rely on cybersecurity technicians to protect computer systems and networks from theft and damage. There is an acute need in the region for cybersecurity technicians since supply has not kept pace with the rapidly growing demand. The goal of this project is to create an educational pathway, in a high-poverty region, to produce cybersecurity technicians who can help address this workforce need. This will be accomplished by designing and implementing dual enrollment courses in two partnering high schools that will lead to matriculation in a postsecondary cybersecurity program. Upon graduation students will have earned either a postsecondary certificate or an AAS degree in cybersecurity qualifying them for employment as technicians in the cybersecurity field.The goals of this project include (1) implementing dual enrollment courses with high school partners, (2) providing professional development for high school and college faculty to improve technician education, (3) marketing the program, (4) enrolling students in a pathway of stackable industry certifications, (5) fostering student success through individualized support and mentoring, and (6) strengthening student connections to the workforce through work-based learning opportunities. A qualitative study will examine student perceptions of the benefits of the dual enrollment program to accelerate entry into the workforce and the effectiveness of peer supports targeted to underrepresented groups. This project was developed in consultation with NCyTE, an ATE center for cybersecurity, whose broad reach will be leveraged to disseminate project materials and findings.This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the Nation's economy.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.