Working with Industry to Incorporate Cybersecurity into Networking Programs

对具有网络安全专业知识的信息技术和网络技术人员的需求日益增加。为了满足这一需求，社区大学必须与工业界合作，开发能够培养更多拥有这些技能的工人的项目。斯帕坦堡社区学院的这个项目旨在减少南卡罗来纳州北部地区受过网络/网络安全技术培训的熟练技术人员的短缺。该项目的领导团队将包括地区行业雇主，目标是开发满足地区雇主需求的网络/网络安全课程。为了确保未来的IT工作者跟上新的发展，斯帕坦堡社区学院将通过增加网络安全组件来加强目前的信息/网络技术应用科学副学士。这一补充可以帮助学生为网络和网络安全专业人员面临的现代挑战做好准备。此外，这些网络/网络安全技能将提高他们在IT技术人员工作中的竞争力。招聘活动包括为网络爱国者团队的高中成员提供进入斯帕坦堡社区学院从事网络安全职业的选择。此外，学院将鼓励尚未确定专业的学生与教职员工讨论网络/网络安全领域的职业机会。最后，联合首席调查人员都是退伍军人，他们将与学院和更大社区内的退伍军人团体合作。这些群体中的许多学生是服务不足的人群的成员，他们可以从完成增强的网络/网络安全学位后增加的就业机会中受益。该项目模式将通过会议演示和网站更新与其他学院和大学分享。这些信息有可能帮助中小型学校改善网络安全技术人员的教育，接触服务不足的人群，并满足行业需求。该计划将利用地区商业领袖的经验和知识，他们将担任商业和工业领导团队。潜在雇主的参与有可能通过纳入网络安全内容来增强现有的教育模式。计划活动包括：1)创建和扩大工商领导团队；2)通过将网络安全概念添加到现有课程并开发两门新的网络安全课程，使现有的AAS课程与行业需求保持一致；3)为教师提供有效教授增强课程所需的专业发展；以及4)利用招聘和保留活动，接触将从扩大的教育机会中受益的人群。参与网络爱国者计划的新流程将使该学院能够接触到服务不足的人群。该项目旨在创建一个信息/网络技术方面的高级应用科学助理项目，该项目独特地服务于南卡罗来纳州北部的需求。该奖项反映了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。

There is an increasing need for information technology and networking technicians who have expertise in cybersecurity. To meet this need, community colleges must work collaboratively with industry to develop programs that can educate more workers with these skills. This project at Spartanburg Community College aims to decrease the shortage of skilled technicians trained in network/cybersecurity technology in the Upstate South Carolina region. The project's leadership team will include regional industry employers, with the goal of developing a networking/cybersecurity curriculum that meets the needs of area employers. To ensure that future IT workers keep up with new developments, Spartanburg Community College will enhance the current Associate of Applied Science in Information/Network Technology by adding cybersecurity components. This addition can help prepare students for modern challenges facing network and cybersecurity professionals. In addition, these network/cybersecurity skills will increase their competitiveness for IT technician jobs. Recruitment activities include giving high school members of Cyber Patriot teams an option to attend Spartanburg Community College to pursue a cybersecurity career. In addition, undecided majors at the college will be encouraged to talk with faculty about career opportunities in networking/cybersecurity. Finally, the co-principal investigators, who are both veterans, will work with veteran groups within the college and greater community. Many students in these groups are members of underserved populations, who could benefit from increased employment opportunities following completion of the enhanced networking/cybersecurity degree. The program model will be shared with other colleges and universities via conference presentations and through website updates. This information has the potential to help small to mid-sized schools improve education for cybersecurity technicians, reach out to underserved populations, and meet industry demand.The program will leverage the experience and knowledge of regional business leaders, who will serve as the Business and Industry Leadership Team. The involvement of potential employers has the potential to enhance an existing educational model by including cybersecurity content. Program activities include: 1) creating and expanding the Business and Industry Leadership Team; 2) aligning the existing AAS curriculum with industry needs by adding cybersecurity concepts to existing courses and developing two new cybersecurity courses; 3) providing faculty with professional development needed to teach the enhanced curriculum effectively; and 4) using recruitment and retention activities to reach out to populations that will benefit from expanded educational opportunities. Engaging in new processes with the Cyber Patriot program will allow the college to reach underserved populations. The project aims create an advanced Associate in Applied Science program in Information/Network Technology that uniquely serves the needs of upstate South Carolina.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.