ACC receives ATE grant from NSF

Arapahoe Community College has received an Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant of $299,933 from the National Science Foundation (NSF; grant #1901847) to address the demand for cybersecurity technicians in regional communities and beyond.
 
The project will help enhance a responsive Associate of Applied Science (AAS) cybersecurity program – offered exclusively at Sturm Collaboration Campus in Castle Rock – aligned with business needs and national security standards. The innovative approach focuses on integrating experiential and project-based learning to provide students with real-world experiences, to create seamless continuity from classroom to workforce, and to equip students with 21st century employable skills. Project goals also include addressing the underrepresentation of women in cybersecurity programs and in the cybersecurity profession, as well as improving retention and persistence in the attainment of an AAS degree in cybersecurity. The award began July 15, 2019, and ends June 30, 2022.
 
“We are most grateful for this ATE grant from NSF,” said Nina Amey, ACC Computer Networking Technology Faculty / Department Chair and principal investigator for the project. “There are nearly 8,000 unfilled jobs in Colorado in the fields of information security and cybersecurity specialist.”
 
For more information, please contact Dr. Eric Dunker, ACC Associate Vice President and Dean of Business, Technology and Workforce Partnerships at eric [dot] dunker [at] arapahoe [dot] edu or 303.797.5859.