Building a pathway to cloud computing careers in west virginia

West Virginia University at Parkersburg (WVUP) received a $815,824 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Undergraduate Education under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076), awarded October 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2028. The grant supports the development and implementation of a cloud computing education pathway designed to address workforce shortages in the advanced technology sector within West Virginia, a region characterized by low educational attainment and economic challenges. WVUP will establish a new Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program and embedded Certificate of Applied Science in Cloud Computing, leveraging a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and membership in the AWS Tech Alliance to align curriculum with industry-relevant competencies and available employment opportunities.

The grant funds the creation of infrastructure, curriculum development, and student support services through WVUP's new Innovation and Technology Center, which will serve as a cutting-edge training facility for the cloud computing program. Key deliverables include curriculum developed in collaboration with AWS resources, recruitment and enrollment initiatives targeting dual enrollment and nontraditional students, and comprehensive student support infrastructure designed to promote program completion. The project emphasizes workforce development in computing technician positions to support the nation's advanced technology economy. No subawards are planned under this grant.

Abstract

This project aims to serve the national interest by helping students gain the knowledge and skills needed for the growing cloud computing industry, particularly in an economic region characterized by low educational attainment and generational poverty. West virginia university at parkersburg (wvup) is leveraging a partnership with amazon web services (AWS) and membership in the AWS tech alliance in west virginia to implement a sector-based approach to technological education. The goal is to align curriculum, career pathways and resources with available jobs and careers in cloud computing. Wvup is supporting the project's infrastructure by housing the cloud computing program at a new wvup innovation and technology center, which will offer a cutting-edge training facility. Wvup will create a new cloud computing associate of applied science (AAS) degree pathway to meet the growing demand for computing technician jobs. A certificate of applied science in cloud computing will be embedded with the AAS degree pathway to enable dual enrollment and traditional college students to gain and demonstrate competency in cloud computing processes. Wvup faculty will develop curriculum for the AAS degree and certificate with resources available through the unique relationship with AWS. Wvup will emphasize recruitment of all students, including dual enrollment and nontraditional students, and provide student support infrastructure to promote successful completion of the program. This project is funded by the advanced technological education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy. 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.- subawards are not planned for this award.