The Biden-Harris Administration has unveiled a comprehensive strategy aimed at bolstering America's cyber workforce and education initiatives. The initiative, known as the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, aims to harness and develop the nation's cyber talent to address growing cybersecurity challenges.

This strategy recognizes the increasing importance of cybersecurity in an interconnected world and seeks to address the critical shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. It emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts between government agencies, educational institutions, and the private sector to promote cybersecurity education and training.

The National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy by the Biden-Harris Administration has four key objectives:

1. Foundational Cyber Skills for All: Provide basic cyber skills to all Americans, promoting their use and global progress in this area.

2. Transforming Cyber Education: Enhance cyber education from K-12 to higher education, making it more affordable and competency-based while investing in educators.

3. Expanding the National Cyber Workforce: Grow the cyber workforce through collaboration, skills-based...

STEM students may be interested in attending National Cybersecurity Training and Education (NCyTE) Center's upcoming virtual career fair. 

Students can attend the fair on September 22, 2023,  and follow along as the National Cybersecurity Training and Education (NCyTE) along with the Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) in cybersecurity community presents the highly anticipated National Cybersecurity Virtual Career Fair (VCF). This event is an opportunity for both students and alumni hailing from over 300 distinguished institutions, including Centers of Academic Excellence in Research (CAE-R), Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), and Cyber Operations (CAE-CO), as well as institutions awaiting approval under the Candidate's Program. 

What sets the National Cybersecurity VCF apart is its unwavering commitment to fostering connections between aspiring cybersecurity professionals and industry-leading employers. Employers can also join the VCF interest list and showcase their organization to a diverse array of top-tier talent. With the continuous expansion of the CAE in Cybersecurity program, each year brings a surge in student participation, with the previous year boasting a remarkable turnout of...

The state of Massachusetts is set to provide free community college for residents over the age of 25. The program, called MassReconnect, supports residents 25 and older with free associate degrees and high-quality certificates.

“Education is our calling card: It's a huge competitive advantage for Massachusetts,” said Massachuesetts Governor Maura Healey, “It elevates our workforce, it attracts employers to our state, and it puts us at the forefront of what is now very much a global economy.”

MassReconnect will cover all costs associated with community college certificates and degrees, including all costs related to tuition, fees, books and supplies. This program is part of a larger strategy to boost enrollment, graduations, and education across the state.

Read the offical policy document outlining MassReconnect here. 

Since 1920, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has been the go-to organization for the nation’s predominately associate degree-granting regionally accredited institutions. The association hosts one of the largest convenings of community college professionals and offers engaging speakers, relevant professional development, and unsurpassed networking opportunities. AACC Annual provides access to the nation’s community college leaders who collectively serve more than 40 percent of the nation’s undergraduates.

The AACC is hosting an upcoming webinar regarding submitting to their annual conference. AACC Annual creates opportunities to design and solve today’s priority challenges and to identify opportunities and innovation to support the country’s community college students. The webinar will help by learning about the processes for submitting abstracts and award nominations. Register online on the Zoom website. 

Community colleges play a crucial role in serving a diverse student population in the United States, particularly immigrants and students who grew up speaking languages other than English. These students face unique challenges in pursuing higher education, but supporting their educational goals is essential for both campus enrichment and the overall strength of the country.

A significant percentage of public community college students (37.3%) are either first-generation immigrants (13.8%) or have at least one foreign-born parent (23.5%). This percentage is higher compared to students in four-year colleges and universities. In public four-year institutions, only 32.9% of students fall into these categories. The numbers are even lower for private, not-for-profit four-year colleges and universities (28.9%) and for-profit four-year institutions (30.8%).

Community college students also have diverse language backgrounds. More than a quarter (27.3%) of public community college students reported that a language other than English was at least partially the first language they learned to speak. Additionally, nearly a quarter of these students stated that they used a language other than...

The metalworking industry is set to gather at North America's largest metal forming, fabricating, welding, and finishing event on Monday, September 11, 2023, at 8:00 AM and concludes on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at 5:00 PM.

Metal enthusiasts, industrial leaders, and professionals from various sectors will meet at FABTECH to seek the latest innovations, cutting-edge technologies, and networking opportunities. Exhibitors will showcase products, machinery, and services, presenting a diverse range of solutions to address the evolving needs of the metalworking industry.

Set in Chicago, attendees will have the chance to participate in workshops, live demonstrations, and insightful seminars led by industry experts, driving the conversation on the future of metalwork and its impact on global manufacturing.

For more information and registration details, visit the event's official website. 

Calling all NSF ATE proposal seekers! Don't miss EvaulATE's highly anticipated webinar on "Strategies and Insights into Evaluation Plans for NSF ATE Proposals." Whether you're new to proposal writing or a seasoned evaluator, this webinar is tailor-made for you. Join EvaluATE on Wednesday, August 9, to learn more. 

Gain valuable insights into crafting well-defined evaluation questions and identifying the right evaluation indicators to showcase the impact and effectiveness of your project. EvaluATE resources will empower you to create a clear and compelling evaluation section, elevating your proposal to new heights of success.

Secure your spot now and gain the knowledge and skills needed to enhance your grant proposals. Register online and join the webinar on August 9 at 1 p.m. EST!

Members of NSF’s Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES National Network are cordially invited to the 2023 Convening: Sustaining Equity-Driven Systems Change. Join in-person (for the first time since 2019!) at the Westin City Center, Washington, D.C., and support the movement to broaden participation in STEM education and careers.

The event is Thursday, August 3rd and Friday, August 4th. The events INCLUDES-funded Alliances are invited to a pre-Convening meeting on Wednesday, August 2nd.

Through peer learning sessions, engaging plenaries and panel discussions, and interactive workshops, members of the INCLUDES National Network will have opportunities to share with and learn from their peers, from NSF and other federal agency representatives, from the INCLUDES Coordination Hub, and from the students and participants most directly affected by our work. Attendees will build and deepen relationships; identify, elevate, and strengthen commonalities and connections across broadening participation efforts; and learn about future actions we can take together to sustain our work.

Registration is $100 per participant, with fees waived for students. Space is limited and offered on a first-come,...

The ATE Central Outreach Kit was originally developed as a tool to assist ATE Principal Investigators (PIs) and staff in effectively planning, monitoring, and executing outreach activities. In general, most ATE projects and centers share common objectives when it comes to outreach and dissemination, such as:

1. Promoting the project or center's initiatives to various audiences, including peer groups, educators, students, and the general public.
2. Cultivating and generating interest in science and technology among administrators, faculty, and students within the project or center's institution, as well as key stakeholders in the industry and other relevant sectors.
3. Encouraging discussions and fostering interest in significant educational and technological issues addressed or introduced by the project or center.
4. Establishing connections and facilitating communication with industry partners and other parties to strategize on creating a skilled technical workforce.

By aligning these overarching goals with the specific objectives of your own project or center, you can develop targeted outreach and dissemination objectives that will form the basis of your outreach plan.

The...

In an op-ed, with Representative Matthew Cartwright, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan called for more funding to strengthen America’s middle class. Panchanathan argues that we must prioritize local innovation & economic development for well-paid, high-tech jobs in emerging & future industries.for innovative and economic development. 

From the op-ed—"More funding is required. While investments for semiconductors have been appropriated under the act, investments in programs like NSF Engines have only been authorized. In other words, Congress must take additional action." 

Panchanathan, NSF's 15th director, has long championed innovative solutions for problems. Panchanathan's scientific contributions have advanced the areas of human-centered multimedia computing, haptic user interfaces and ubiquitous computing technologies for enhancing the quality of life for individuals with different abilities, and machine learning for multimedia applications.

While the op-ed focuses on the area of Pennsylvania, the key takeaways apply across the nation. Read the full op-ed on The Times Tribune website.