(Monaca, Pa.) The Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) today announced it has been accepted as a member of the National Cybersecurity Training and Education Center (NCyTE). Based in Washington with a nationwide network of leadership institutions and consultants, NCyTE works to expand cybersecurity education through curriculum resources, student and faculty development, outreach programs and industry partnerships. CCBC is one of seven colleges and universities in Pennsylvania to join the organization.
“Community colleges play an essential role in the nationwide initiative to grow, develop, and diversify our cybersecurity workforce. Membership in NCyTE extends our network of partners across the country and gives our faculty access to a national repository of cybersecurity education resources,” said Shelly Moore, CCBC Vice President of Academic Affairs & Provost. “CCBC’s alignment with organizations like NCyTE and National CyberWatch, which we joined in November of last year, help ensure that our graduates—whether they are entering the workforce for the first time, transferring to a four-year university, or taking classes to augment existing professional skills—will leave CCBC equipped with the knowledge and skills to make a significant positive impact in cybersecurity and related technology fields.”
NCyTE is funded by the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technology Education (ATE) program, which supports institutions developing innovative approaches for educating skilled technicians in industries that drive the nation’s economy. It currently serves as the ATE National Center for security technologies. NCyTE focuses on improving cybersecurity training and teaching while connecting higher education institutions, businesses, and government agencies interested in building the cybersecurity workforce of the future.
Membership in the NCyTE center is designed to foster collaboration between participating institutions. Monthly webinars, activities and events provide a forum for faculty to share information about cybersecurity education ideas and programs. It will also provide CCBC with additional resources to engage with and recruit traditionally underrepresented groups in cybersecurity, including women, minorities, and veterans.
CCBC students will be able to take advantage of multiple development opportunities. Cybersecurity majors will gain access to NCyTE’s industry partners, including individuals and companies in the growing fields of security, privacy, information technology, cryptology, and more. NCyTE offers travel support to attend cybersecurity-related conferences and other events. They have also partnered with learning-centered competitions like the National Cyber League, where students can test their skills in practical challenges associated with hackers, ransomware, and website audits.
The Cybersecurity associate degree program at CCBC prepares students for careers in computer security, intrusion detection, network security, and risk analysis. Graduates learn to protect enterprise-level data from disruption and penetration. Teamwork and problem-solving skills are refined through projects in cloud computing, data recovery, and computer forensics and investigation.
To learn more about CCBC’s Cybersecurity program, visit: https://www.ccbc.edu/programs/cybersecurity