Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) is advancing its cybersecurity education through a new $650,000 grant.
The funding, which was awarded by the National Science Foundation, will be used to prepare high school and college students for the cybersecurity workforce.
Diversifying The Cybersecurity Profession
The grant is titled, “Securing the Future Workforce: Inclusive Cybersecurity Technician Education for All.”
BCTC will use the grant to implement outreach, mentoring, and educational activities to encourage female and underrepresented students to enroll in and complete the cybersecurity credentials at BCTC.
Cybersecurity technicians are employed across a wide range of industries and are responsible for safeguarding computer systems and networks from cyber threats to ensure the protection and integrity of digital assets and systems.
Despite growing demand for these skilled technicians, Kentucky’s postsecondary institutions attract and graduate a restricted demographic in cybersecurity.
Broadening and diversifying this career pathway is critical if Kentucky employers are to find sufficient technicians with the skills and talents necessary to safeguard diverse economic sectors in an ever more connected cyber-world.
“Receiving this grant will enable BCTC to provide essential support for both recruiting students interested in STEM fields and meeting the needs of our community partners,” said Dr. Greg Feeney, BCTC President/CEO. “We are committed to collaborating with our regional technical workforce stakeholders to expand access to a larger and more diverse cybersecurity workforce in central Kentucky, helping to address local demand. BCTC is the only KCTCS college with the CAE-CD designation, stressing our commitment to educating the cyber workforce.”
Developing A Strong Talent Pipeline
BCTC will use the grant to implement several steps to address the state’s shortage of cybersecurity professionals, including:
- Hiring a part-time retention/recruitment specialist to support enrolled students and boost enrollment from diverse college populations.
- Implementing a near-peer mentoring program, where experienced cybersecurity students will guide and support first-year students.
- Launching an outreach program targeting 240 underrepresented and female students from five local schools, providing mentorship and education over the grant period.
- Recruit and educate 20 middle and high school teachers and counselors to enhance their understanding of cybersecurity, enabling them to better support dual credit students and spark interest among younger students.
- Evaluating learning outcomes across different cohorts to identify effective mentoring strategies.
This comprehensive initiative aims to create a robust pipeline of diverse talent in cybersecurity, spanning from middle school through college, by providing accurate information, hands-on learning experiences, and supportive mentorship.
In addition, BCTC has been re-designated as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) through the A.A.S. degree in Computer & Information Technologies until 2028.
To learn more about BCTC’s Cybersecurity program, visit bluegrass.kctcs.edu/cybersecurity.
To learn more about BCTC’s Computer & Information Technologies program, visit bluegrass.kctcs.edu/computer-information-technology
Those interested can also contact Dana Brown at dana.brown@kctcs.edu.
