HBCU CyberChat

The HBCU Cybersecurity Consortium (HCC) is a collaborative initiative designed to address the cybersecurity skills gap and develop a diverse pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals. Partnering with Southern Company, the Consortium offers comprehensive programs, workshops, and real-world projects. Its mission is to accelerate cybersecurity education and workforce readiness among HBCU students and faculty, fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government.

The HCC aims to equip cybersecurity faculty and students with advanced training, accelerated learning, and workforce readiness opportunities. HCC fosters collaboration between academia, industry, and government, and develops a diverse pipeline of graduates qualified to address tomorrow's cybersecurity challenges.

The HCC offers several key programs, including:

• The HBCU Cybersecurity Accelerator for students.
• The HBCU Cybersecurity Fellows Program (HCFP) for faculty.
• The HBCU CyberChat Monthly sessions for both students and faculty.

Participants can apply through specified application processes for each program.

Eligible students must be in good academic standing at an HBCU, have completed 90 credits(junior or senior) of computer science coursework, and be interested in cybersecurity. They must commit to participating in both online and in-person activities.

The program requires an application and offers over 60 hours of professional development, certification support, and opportunities to engage in innovative teaching and learning methodologies. It aims to elevate faculty expertise and facilitate collaboration with industry and government. However, all the programs for faculty isn't application-based. Faculty who are not in the Cybersecurity Fellows Program will still be able to actively participate in PROPEL Learn, Consortium meetings, CyberChats, and take advantage of other research opportunities. 

The Consortium's programs enhance student and faculty knowledge and skills by combining theoretical learning with practical experiences. In the Cybersecurity Accelerator Program, students benefit from challenge-based learning and mentoring, gaining both technical and social skills. Faculty development is promoted through the Fellows Program, which offers advanced training and certifications. Other HBCU stakeholders gain access to enriched curriculums and resources, improving their students' educational experience.

The Consortium will offer priority access to programs for the select HBCUs that participated in its development. However, it is open to all HBCUs, with schools that join over time and are officially represented gaining increasing access to programming and resources. This inclusivity ensures broad engagement across the HBCU community.

The Cybersecurity Consortium’s accelerated learning opportunities educate students on industry-required skills through challenge-based learning and other expedited experiential learning opportunities. The consortium’s flagship accelerated learning program is the Cybersecurity Accelerator. The program also includes a significant mentoring component, allowing students to apply their knowledge practically, understand industry dynamics, and develop essential technical and social skills.

Faculty members receive funding for certifications upon acceptance into the Fellows Program. While the program is sequential and time-bound, faculty can choose when to pursue certifications based on the curriculum and their schedule. This flexibility is complemented by mentorship and coaching from cybersecurity professionals, enhancing faculty teaching capabilities.