Executive Director of FLATE, Ernie Friend presented at The Role of Community Colleges in Cybersecurity Education: Future Directions, sponsored by NCyTE Center and the National Science Foundation on June 27, 2022, in Alexandria, VA. This unique Summit builds off an original 2002 workshop and publication sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and includes a gathering of invited experts eager to learn and contribute to shaping the future of cybersecurity education for years to come. A comprehensive program for the Summit has been developed with input from national stakeholders including National Science Foundation (NSF) program officers, national cybersecurity centers, industry partners, and key cybersecurity faculty.
Ernie Friend and Kyle Jones from Sinclair Community College
developed a study that focuses on how community colleges that offer bachelor’s
degrees can help close unfilled cybersecurity positions. According to the 2019
(ISC)2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, the cybersecurity workforce shortage is
expanding rapidly. The United States currently has about 800,000 people in the
cybersecurity workforce and a shortage of about 500,000. A recent CSIS survey
of IT decision-makers across eight countries found that 82 percent of employers
reported a shortage of cybersecurity skills, and 71 percent believe this talent
gap causes direct and measurable damage to their organizations (McAfee, 2015).
Over the past three decades, there has been a drastic transformation in the
role community colleges play in preparing students for the workforce. Rather
than just offering two-year degrees and programs, many states are now allowing
community colleges to offer four-year degrees as well. There are many
advantages that come along with getting a bachelor’s degree from a community
college rather than from a four-year institution. One of these advantages is
the convenience of having a community college within commuting distance of 90 percent
of the U.S. population, providing an opportunity for many adults to attend
college while also holding a full-time job (U.S. Department of Education,
2020).
Many community college students work full time, so they
typically enroll in programs part-time, taking night, weekend, and online
classes. Working full-time permits students to take advantage of tuition
assistance, enabling them to avoid out-of-pocket expenses. Furthermore, most
bachelor’s degrees offered by community and technical colleges cost less than
those offered by four-year colleges and universities. According to the National
Center for Education Statistics, the average 2018/2019 cost of tuition and fees
at a two-year school that offers bachelor’s degrees was about one-third of the
cost for a year at a four-year public institution (U.S. Department of
Education, 2020). Another benefit of community colleges that offer bachelor’s
programs is that they tend to have much smaller class sizes, which allows
students to get more individualized attention and help from professors. The
open admissions policy held by many community colleges allows students to apply
without having to fulfill any academic requirements or compete for admission.
This policy often extends to community colleges’ bachelor’s programs. Community
colleges are very dynamic and quick to respond to the changing cybersecurity
landscape by creating new programs to meet current workforce needs. They
provide the opportunity for students to earn cybersecurity-related bachelor’s
degrees that meet the demands of the regional business community without having
to go to costly four-year institutions. This study focused on cybersecurity, but
the data could also apply to colleges that offer bachelor’s degrees in many
other areas including manufacturing-related programs. More information can be
found at https://www.ncyte.net/calendar-of-events/future-directions-summit.
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