Cybersecurity Advanced Technological Education at a Tribal College

保持计算机和信息系统的安全是一项重大挑战。商业、工业和政府都需要准备充分的技术人员来预防、检测和调查网络安全漏洞，而网络威胁的增长也创造了对更多拥有必要知识和技能的工人的需求。为了应对这一全国性的教育和劳动力发展挑战，该项目将在部落学院建立一个网络安全项目，为学生从高中进入网络安全副学士学位课程，到工作或相关的学士学位课程建立一个无缝衔接的途径。该项目的首要目标是增加学生人数，包括印第安人、退伍军人和女性，以获得网络安全相关的学位和技术认证。研究人员的目标是建立一个可复制的模式，可以适应和扩大规模，特别是在其他部落学院。龟山社区学院的这个项目将以该学院的计算机支持专家项目为基础，该项目提供两年的技术计算机教育，可获得应用科学副学士学位。新网络安全课程的学生将学习计算机体系结构、操作系统、计算机故障排除和维修、服务器管理、网络基础设施设计和支持、网络基础设施安全和编程等技能。课程将包括动手，体验式学习方法。当地雇主承诺为学生提供在职培训、工作见习以及兼职或全职职位。迈诺特州立大学的商业信息技术部将为龟山社区学院的教师提供专业发展，帮助他们开发不同形式的课程（校内、在线和混合），并为那些希望在完成两年制学位后转学到该大学的学生提供支持。该项目的主要活动是(1)开发符合本地商业和工业需求的网络安全/信息保障方面的新AAS学位；(2)通过夏令营和其他外展活动，在龟山印第安人保留区或附近招募高中生加入该计划；(3)鼓励学生获得行业认可的证书，以验证他们在学位课程中学到的技能；(4)利用北方信息技术联盟内部的联系（包括波蒂诺达科塔学院、湖区州立学院、迈诺特州立大学和威利斯顿州立学院）来扩展课程的范围，并支持希望过渡到相关四年制学位课程的学生；(5)提供工作坊、研讨会和其他专业发展活动，以提高龟山社区学院教师的网络安全知识和技能。该项目将通过加强网络安全教育和增加网络安全技术人员的多样性，为国家优先事项做出贡献。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Keeping computers and information systems secure is a major challenge. Business, industry, and government need well-prepared technicians who can prevent, detect, and investigate cybersecurity breaches, and the growth of cyber-threats has created a need for many more workers who have the necessary knowledge and skills. To address this nationwide challenge in education and workforce development, this project will establish a cybersecurity program at a tribal college, building a seamless pathway for students to move from high school into an associate degree program in cybersecurity and on to a job or a related bachelor's degree program. The project's overarching goal is to increase the number of students, including Native Americans, veterans, and women, pursuing cybersecurity-focused degrees and technical certifications. The investigators aim to build a replicable model that can be adapted and scaled, especially at other tribal colleges.This project at Turtle Mountain Community College will build on the college's Computer Support Specialist program, which provides two years of technical computer education leading to an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. Students in the new cybersecurity program will learn skills in computer architecture, operating systems, computer troubleshooting and repair, server administration, network infrastructure design and support, network infrastructure security, and programming. The curriculum will incorporate a hands-on, experiential learning approach. Local employers have committed to provide on-the-job training, job shadowing, and part-time or full-time positions for students. Minot State University's Business Information Technology department will provide professional development for Turtle Mountain Community College faculty, will assist them with developing courses in different formats (on-campus, online, and hybrid), and will support a pathway for students who wish to transfer to the university after completing the two-year degree. The key activities in the project are (1) to develop a new AAS degree in cybersecurity/information assurance that is aligned with the needs of local business and industry; (2) to recruit high school students on or near the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation into the program through summer camps and other outreach; (3) to encourage students to obtain industry-recognized certifications to validate the skills they learn in the degree program; (4) to utilize connections within the Northern Information Technology Consortium (including Dakota College at Bottineau, Lake Region State College, Minot State University, and Williston State College) to extend the reach of the curriculum and support students who would like to transition to a related four-year degree program; and (5) to provide workshops, seminars, and other professional development activities to improve the cybersecurity knowledge and skills of Turtle Mountain Community College faculty. This project will contribute to national priorities by strengthening cybersecurity education and increasing the diversity of the cybersecurity technical workforce.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.