CCBC Increases Access To Cyber Careers With National Science Grant

Monaca, PA – Community College of Beaver County has received a $473,491 Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant from the Natonal Science Foundation, the U.S. government’s independent science agency.
The three-year grant will fund the college’s ACCESS: Creating Pathways to Advance Cybersecurity Career Education for STEM Success program to strengthen and expand STEM programs and train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

CCBC was one of 12 community colleges accepted to the FORCEE-ATE mentoring workshop in June of 2024 to pursue an ATE grant to create more accessibility to diverse educational pathways in cybersecurity for students from high school to the workforce.

This project will directly address our nation’s critical cybersecurity workforce shortage and aligns with the college’s academic plan—Titan Pathways to Success.

“At CCBC, we empower students to start strong, stay strong, and finish stronger. With the newly awarded NSF funding for STEM and cybersecurity, CCBC is expanding access to affordable, high-demand career pathways,” stated Dr. Katie Thomas, vice president of academic affairs and provost. “This funding elevates our college as a hub for professional development, supporting current cyber educators and professionals as they enhance personal skill sets and academic curricula.”

The ACCESS project will:

• Ensure underserved youths have access to high quality STEM education to speed up their entry into careers. Building from its successful high school academy model, CCBC will launch a new Cybersecurity High School Academy this fall.
• Provide opportunities for peer tutoring, employment as teaching assistants, need-based stipends, and vouchers to pay for textbooks and certification exams.
• Prepare students to directly enter the workforce or continue their training and provide low-to-cost workforce development for alumni, cyber professionals, community college faculty, and K-12 educators through a Penetration Testing Pro-Series.

“This grant will support CCBC’s Cybersecurity and STEM students through each phase of their journey by sparking an interest in career opportunities and providing equitable access to high quality STEM-related degree programs,” said Dr. Roger W. Davis, president. “We also thank Congressman Deluzio for his strong support of CCBC and champion his vision for the future of workforce education in our region.”

“From my time in the Congress and before that at Pit Cyber, I know that cyber threats bring great risk to our country, so I know firsthand how seriously we need well-trained workers in the field,” said Congressman Deluzio. “I will keep working to bring federal money like this home to Western PA to grow economic opportunities and keep all of us safe online.”

The ATE program focuses on the education of technicians who work in high-tech fields that drive the nation’s economy. Because two-year community and technical colleges are the leading sources of technician education in the United States, faculty from these higher education institutions have had leadership roles in most ATE projects since the program began in 1993.

ABOUT COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF BEAVER COUNTY (CCBC): Community College of Beaver County is empowering communities through education. CBC offers ten pathways to success in aviation, business, criminal justice, education, health sciences, liberal studies, STEM, industrial technology, college here and now for high school students, and continuing education and workforce development for lifelong learners. Students can earn degrees, certificates, and micro credentials and be career ready or continue their educational journey through premier transfer agreements. CCBC is an Achieving the Dream Leader College, named to Top Colleges in Pennsylvania, is GI Jobs Magazine Military-Friendly School and ranked Best in the Valley by our community. Learn more at ccbc.edu, and follow us on Facebook, Twiter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.