CyberCorps Scholarships for Service: Augusta University Developing Immersive Experiences for Novel Cybersecurity Education

在当今日益互联的世界中，应对网络威胁的反应式解决方案已被证明不足以阻止对关键基础设施、行业、学校、家庭和个人数据的网络攻击呈指数级增长的趋势。 该项目解决了对严格的学术课程的需求，这些课程将为未来的网络安全专业人员做好准备，他们可以开发系统，其组件将网络安全原则从系统开发到应用。奥古斯塔大学（Au）以其各种当地合作伙伴关系和新兴研究活动为基础，提供三个本科学位和三个研究生学位，重点关注网络安全，网络情报和其他密切相关的主题。Au被国家安全局和国土安全部指定为国家网络防御教育学术卓越中心。该提案将奥古斯塔大学开发新型网络安全教育沉浸式体验（Audience）项目定位为促进网络安全研究和创新的催化剂，同时为未来的政府网络安全专业人员做好准备。Audience奖学金计划将在五年内资助20名学生。 被选中参加该计划的学生将完成他们的本科和/或硕士学位，作为全面计划的一部分，该计划涉及与政府和行业合作伙伴的互动，参与研究以及参与外联活动。学生可选择的本科课程包括网络安全，网络安全工程，网络安全运营，计算机科学和信息技术的理学学士学位。在研究生阶段提供的选择包括计算机科学硕士（专注于网络安全）或信息安全管理，以及情报和安全研究硕士。 此外，还将建立一个网络安全学习社区，以支持Audience学者和快速增长的本地专业网络安全工作人员。该项目的更广泛影响包括传播项目小组在网络安全教育场所和促进更多样化的网络安全工作队伍方面的经验。Au具有独特的优势，通过与奥古斯塔技术学院和克拉克亚特兰大大学的现有关系，增加了代表性不足的群体的参与，并成功地为其他奖学金计划招募了不同的个人。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，以培养一支上级网络安全人才队伍。毕业后，奖学金获得者需要在联邦，州，地方或部落政府组织的网络安全工作与他们的奖学金支持相同的时间。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

In today’s increasingly connected world, reactive solutions to cyber threats have proven insufficient in stemming the tide of exponentially increasing cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure, industries, schools, homes, and personal data. This project addresses the need for rigorous academic programs that will prepare future cybersecurity professionals who can develop systems whose components incorporate cybersecurity principles from system development through application. Building on its various local partnerships and emerging research activity, Augusta University (AU) offers three undergraduate degrees and three graduate degrees that concentrate heavily on cybersecurity, cyber intelligence, and other closely related topics. AU has been designated as a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security. This proposal positions the Augusta University Developing Immersive Experiences for Novel Cybersecurity Education (AUDIENCE) project as a catalyst to promote cybersecurity research and innovation while preparing future government cybersecurity professionals. The AUDIENCE scholarship program will fund a total of 20 students over a five-year period. Students selected for this program will complete their undergraduate and/or master’s degrees as part of a comprehensive plan that involves interactions with government and industry partners, involvement in research, and participation in outreach activities. Options available to students for undergraduate studies include Bachelor of Science degrees in Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Engineering, Cybersecurity Operations, Computer Science, and Information Technology. Options available at the graduate level include a Master of Science in Computer Science (with a concentration in Cybersecurity) or in Information Security Management, and a Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies. In addition, a cybersecurity learning community will be established to support AUDIENCE scholars and the rapidly growing local professional cybersecurity workforce The learning community provides the opportunity to focus both on cyber intelligence and technical cybersecurity topics. Broader impact of the project includes dissemination of the project team’s experiences in cybersecurity education venues and in promoting a more diverse cybersecurity workforce. AU is uniquely positioned to increase the participation of underrepresented groups through existing relationships with Augusta Technical College and Clark Atlanta University and has a history of success recruiting diverse individuals for other scholarship programs.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.