| NSF Org: |
DGE Division Of Graduate Education |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | August 15, 2012 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | August 15, 2012 |
| Award Number: | 1241711 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Victor Piotrowski
vpiotrow@nsf.gov (703)292-5141 DGE Division Of Graduate Education EDU Directorate for STEM Education |
| Start Date: | September 1, 2012 |
| End Date: | August 31, 2017 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $416,102.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $416,102.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
550 S COLLEGE AVE NEWARK DE US 19713-1324 (302)831-2136 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
DE US 19716-2553 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | CYBERCORPS: SCHLAR FOR SER |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.076 |
ABSTRACT
Ensuring the security of the world's and our own nation's computers and networks is a key national challenge. A significant need exists in Delaware and northern Maryland for trained cybersecurity graduates critical to large regional employers. This Regional Cybersecurity Education Initiative, formed by the University of Delaware (UD), Delaware Technical and Community College (DTCC), and Harford Community College (HCC) along with government and industrial partners is establishing ongoing education and research collaborations that is building programmatic capacity and establishing a pipeline of graduates skilled in the theories and practices required to address these challenging Cybersecurity issues. The project is completing initiatives including: expanded Cybersecurity courses and Minor at UD producing students able to design state of the art secure software and systems, a 2+2 Program to allow 2nd year DTCC and HCC student to transfer into four year UD CIS and CPEG BS degree programs, and establishing cybersecurity outreach including an internship program, middle and high school student and teacher summer camps and bridge programs to energize and attract the next generation of Cybersecurity professionals. The program's initiatives are establishing a sustainable comprehensive approach to engaging and educating a continuous pipeline of Cybersecurity professionals. The intellectual merit of the proposed activities centers on the new discoveries that will be made possible by students, faculty, and professional partners through the unique collaborations and established creative education and outreach programs. The education and outreach activities, and the regional and national capacity needs addressed, directly represent the programmatic broader impacts.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Between 2012 and 2017, the NSF Collaborative SFS Capacity Building project (241711) “A Regional Cybersecurity Education Initiative” led by the University of Delaware and supported by the Delaware Technical and Community College (DTCC), and the Harford Community College (HCC), completed the comprehensive introduction of Cybersecurity higher education into undergraduate, graduate, and associate degree programs across the three institutions. The goals of this project was to establish a sustainable comprehensive approach to engaging and educating a continuous pipeline of Cybersecurity professionals for the region and the nation.
Many major educational programs were created under this award including
- an 18 credit Cybersecurity minor Program introduced fall 2014 available to all majors in the University of Delaware with 89 students currently enrolled and 21 students awarded the minor,
- a Cybersecurity MS Program introduced fall 2015 with 17 students currently enrolled and one student awarded the MS degree,
- an Online Cybersecurity MS Program introduced spring 2016 with 75 students located across the US currently enrolled and 4 students awarded the MS degree,
- a 9 credit Cybersecurity Certificate Program introduced spring 2016 delivered in two yearly cohorts in 2016 and 2017 for the US Army’s CERDEC and APG organizations and which graduated approximately 50 students drawn from military and civilians from the DoD as well as on-base defense contractors,
- a 4+1 BS/MS Program introduced fall 2017 to allow undergraduates to complete a Cybersecurity MS degree by adding a 5th year to their normal undergraduate degree program,
- an enhanced 2+2 Programs joint with the Delaware Technical and Community College and the Harford Community College to allow a seamless transition of 2-year associates degree students into a 4-year degree program stressing Cybersecurity education as part of technical and other degrees,
- a 48 credit DUAL MS (Cybersecurity / ISTM) Program introduced 2017 which awards both an MIS ISTM (Information Systems and Technology Management) MS and Cybersecurity MS degrees,
- a Cybersecurity Scholars Program introduced in fall 2017 for incoming freshmen from a wide range of degree programs to incorporate the knowledge and importance of Cybersecurity into their chosen undergraduate degree, and
- the creation of 10 new campus and 8 new online classes taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels has demonstrated the program's impact illustrated by the dramatic increase in class enrollments in the Introduction to Cybersecurity (ELEG/CPEG/CISC/MISY 465/665) and System Hardening and Protection (DEFENSE - ELEG/CPEG 484/694) classes having grown from about 20 students each to 142 and 77 students per semester respectively.
A major accomplishment completed under this award was the program’s Certification goal of receiving the United States National Security Agency (NSA) / Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance (IA) Education (CAE/IAE) in November 2016.
An ongoing accomplishment supported in-part by this award is the continuous yearly offering of a week-long summer Cybersecurity Bootcamp of industry-grade training for undergraduate, graduate, and high school students, often joined in class by regional cybersecurity industry professionals. Created and managed by a consortium of Delaware educational institutions and the State of Delaware, the camp has been held continuously since 2010 and has graduated approximately 350 students across the eight years.
Another significant accomplishment supported in-part by this award was the creation of significant new infrastructure where the UD Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering planned and completed a new facility for students to have access to equipment and capabilities to hold “live-fire” cyber defense and warfare training. The facility is part of a new $2 million dollar Innovation Suite, known as the iSuite, unveiled May 2017, as part of the department’s 125th anniversary celebration. In addition to a fully equipped 24-seat Cyber Range, the 4,500-square-foot iSuite includes a Collaboration Hub and a Makerspace to allow student to explore the creation of modern devices such as the Internet of Things (IoT).
Last Modified: 05/24/2018
Modified by: Charles Cotton
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