Project Grant 60NANB23D156

PURPOSE: MOUNTWEST COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE SEEKS TO BECOME DESIGNATED AS A NATIONAL CENTER OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN CYBERSECURITY (NCAE-C) BY THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY AND IMPLEMENT AN ON-CAMPUS CYBERSECURITY CENTER TO ADDRESS BOTH WEST VIRGINIA AND NATIONAL INTERESTS OF CYBERSECURITY.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THIS PROJECT WILL STRENGTHEN OF THE CYBERSECURITY CURRICULUM AND THE SUPPORTING TECHNOLOGY. IT WILL ALSO BE NECESSARY TO UPDATE AND STRENGTHEN THE COLLEGEWIDE INFORMATION ASSURANCE AND SECURITY PLAN TO OPERATE AND ALIGN WITH CENTER OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE PRACTICES. THE COLLEGE WILL DESIGNATE SPACE ON CAMPUS TO SERVE AS THE PHYSICAL SPACE FOR THE CENTER. DURING THIS PROJECT, IT PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE NETWORK ADMINISTRATIONS PROGRAM, CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM, AND OTHER RELATED IT CLASSROOMS WILL MOVE TO INCREASE SPACE AND OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY. THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THE COLLEGE WILL ALSO OBTAIN CERTIFICATION FROM EC-COUNCIL (INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF E-COMMERCE) AND WILL PROVIDE EC-COUNCIL TRAININGS AND CERTIFICATIONS TO LOCAL BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. THE CENTER WILL HOST NON-CREDIT TRAININGS, SHORT-TERM CERTIFICATIONS, AND MICRO-CREDENTIALS FOR BOTH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY AND THE IT WORKFORCE LOOKING TO UPSKILL OR RESKILL. THE CENTER WILL ALSO HOUSE STATIONS FOR ETHICAL HACKING TEAM EXERCISES. THE COLLEGE WILL HIRE A PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.EXPECTED OUTCOMES: INCREASE THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES BY 25% INTO THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FIELD, WITH EITHER A CYBERSECURITY DEGREE OR ENHANCED EMPHASIS IN CYBERSECURITY. INCREASE SECURITY-RELATED SIMULATION SO GRADUATES ARE MORE PREPARED FOR THE WORKFORCE. INCREASE OUTREACH TO K-12 SCHOOLS, LOW-INCOME YOUNG WOMEN, RURAL APPALACHIANS, AND FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS. EMPOWER STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COLLEGE TO ENGAGE IN INTERDISCIPLINARY THOUGHT, APPLICATION, AND LEADERSHIP IN?CYBERSECURITY. ENHANCE IT PROGRAM OFFERINGS BY PURCHASING INDUSTRY-STANDARD EQUIPMENT AND PROVIDING MORE HANDS-ON TRAINING ON EQUIPMENT. INCREASE EMPLOYER SATISFACTION WITH PLACEMENT OF STUDENTS WHO ARE CAREER READY AND BETTER EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE CYBERSECURITY SOLUTION TO EMPLOYERS UPON GRADUATION. INCREASE RETENTION RATE AND COMPLETION OF CERTIFICATES OR DEGREES BY 25% INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHORT-TERM TRAININGS AND MICRO-CREDENTIALS OFFERED BY 25% OBTAIN THE NCAE-C DESIGNATION. CREATE A PHYSICAL CYBERSECURITY CENTER. OBTAIN EC COUNCIL CERTIFICATION PROJECT MANAGEMENTINTENDED BENEFICIARIES: EMPLOYERS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE NATION, STUDENTS OR LEARNERS WHO WILL BE PREPARED FOR GOOD JOBS, AND FACULTY WHO CAN DEEPEN THEIR EXPERTISE AND SKILLS IN CYBERSECURITY.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THERE ARE NO PLANNED SUBAWARDS.