CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (Renewal): Promoting Cybersecurity Excellence and Diversity via Dynamic and Applied Learning Tactics

该项目支持在加州州立大学圣贝纳迪诺分校（CSUSB）继续开展CyberCorps®：服务奖学金（SFS）项目。CSUSB计划通过动态课程，独特的应用学习要求和多样化的学生群体促进网络安全卓越。学生们学习的课程是围绕政府机构寻找合格网络安全人员的需求设计的。该计划为联邦政府提供许多急需的技能培训选择，包括四个学士学位和五个硕士学位课程。一个典型的CSUSB CyberCorps®学生精通网络安全政策、战术、威胁分析、反情报、网络、数据库、进攻和防御黑客、渗透测试和取证，包括应用专业经验。CSUSB的服务区域人口密集，居民来自不同的种族背景，包括那些目前在网络安全领域代表性不足的群体。此外，大多数学生都是第一代少数族裔学生，他们从社区大学转学，通常来自低收入和弱势家庭。从辅导到礼仪再到职业行为，CSUSB非常重视确保这些多样化的学生群体（50%的西班牙裔和43%的女性）学习成功获得和保持专业就业所需的技能。CSUSB SFS项目还指导其他机构在招聘多样性、安置策略、利用大学资源和项目管理方面的最佳实践。CSUSB的CyberCorps®计划将继续作为高素质网络安全工作人员的来源，有三个项目目标。首先，该项目将培养四组来自不同背景的研究生和本科生。其次，项目团队将为学者提供持续的学术支持和指导，目标是每年保持100%的保留率（除非特殊情况）。最后，该项目旨在将所有奖学金获得者安置在联邦、州、地方或部落的网络服务职位上，其中至少80%在联邦行政部门的职位上。该计划的组成部分及其有效性将为成功招聘、指导、保留和安置网络安全专业人员提供知识体系和最佳实践策略。在经验丰富的教师和专业人士的指导下，CyberCorps®学生需要在课堂之外的应用活动中工作，包括比赛，研究和社区外展。CSUSB项目也在寻求非传统的方法来展示学生的才能，从游戏开发到具有挑战性的技术项目，创建一个全国认可的网络安全项目。该项目由CyberCorps®服务奖学金（SFS）计划支持，该计划为建立或继续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，以培养优秀的网络安全劳动力。毕业后，奖学金获得者必须在联邦、州、地方或部落政府组织的网络安全部门工作，工作时间与奖学金支持时间相同。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。

This project supports continuation of the CyberCorps®: Scholarship for Service (SFS) program at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). The CSUSB program promotes cybersecurity excellence through a dynamic curriculum, unique applied learning requirements, and a diverse student population. Students work on a curriculum designed around the needs of government organizations seeking well-qualified cybersecurity personnel. The program provides training options for many in-demand skills within the federal government and encompasses four bachelor’s and five master’s degree programs. A typical CSUSB CyberCorps® student is well-versed in cybersecurity policy, tactics, threat analysis, counterintelligence, networking, database, offensive and defensive hacking, penetration testing, and forensics, including with applied professional experiences. CSUSB's service area is richly populated with residents from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including those groups that are currently underrepresented in the cybersecurity field. In addition, most students are first generation minority students, transferring from community colleges, often from low-income and disadvantaged backgrounds. From tutoring to etiquette to professional behavior, CSUSB places great emphasis on ensuring this diverse student cohort (50% Hispanic and 43% female) learns the skills necessary to successfully obtain and retain professional employment. The CSUSB SFS program also mentors other institutions regarding best practices in recruitment diversity, placement strategies, leveraging university resources, and program management.CSUSB’s CyberCorps® program will continue as a source of high-quality cybersecurity workforce personnel with three project objectives. First, the program will train four cohorts of graduate and undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds. Second, the project team will provide ongoing academic support and mentoring to the scholars with the goal of a 100% annual retention rate (barring extenuating circumstances). Last, the program aims to place all scholarship recipients in federal, state, local, or tribal cyber service positions, with at least 80% in federal executive branch positions. The program’s components and its effectiveness will contribute to the body of knowledge and best practice strategies for successful recruitment, mentorship, retention, and placement of cybersecurity professionals. Under the mentorship of experienced faculty and professionals, CyberCorps® students are required to work in applied activities beyond the classroom including competitions, research, and community outreach. The CSUSB program is also pursuing unconventional approaches to showcase student talents from game development and outreach to challenging technical projects, creating a nationally recognized cybersecurity program.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.