Overview
Portland State University has received a grant to build pathways to cybersecurity careers for Oregon’s Nine Federally Recognized Tribes. This program will offer a series of connected trainings and a mentor to facilitate education and job growth for tribal members, at no cost to tribes.
About the programs
This grant will facilitate three components designed to develop interest in, accessibility to, and experience in cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity Education Seminars
The program seeks to coordinate with each of Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes to host an in-person, on-site (or in close proximity) educational event to train tribal members in cybersecurity. Each event will be developed according to specific needs for increasing capacities in cybersecurity and presented according to the needs, as expressed by individual tribes, and the knowledge base of community members who attend the event.
Mentorship & Career Pathways Advising
In partnership with the tribes, the program intends to design a career pathways and mentorship program for tribal members interested in increasing their skills or pursuing careers in cybersecurity. Mentors will be selected by the tribe and assist participants in navigating further educational opportunities and career paths.
a. Mentorship and career path advising is an essential component to the program because NICE has found that the number of cybersecurity-related jobs currently outpaces the number of people qualified to fill them and that the demand is growing rapidly. Mentors will help with the following:
b. Becoming familiar with cybersecurity career pathways outlined by NICE.
c. Identifying job pathways to pinpoint areas for growth.
d. Understanding the work roles, tasks, knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) keys to success.
e. Sharing training and professional development opportunities to build skills and maximize potential capacity-building for the tribal community.
Certificate in Building Cyber Resilience
Designed and adapted specifically for Oregon’s tribes, PSU will provide a no-cost, highly collaborative training program that will use a cohort-based case study approach to learn about common cyber risks. Participants will learn how to identify, assess, and communicate cyber risks as well as how to conduct the first step in mitigating threats through a risk assessment. A deep technical background is not required and technical concepts will be explained through the course of 12 weekly sessions.
Understanding cybersecurity risk is an essential first step in protecting data and ensuring community and organizational resiliency in the event of a cyber-attack or natural disaster. Cyber risks can take the form of technical or physical threats or vulnerabilities, regulatory compliance requirements, financial loss, data loss, or reputational harm.
Scholarships
The fourth component of this program is the availability of industry scholarships. Industry scholarships may include education related to cybersecurity. These certifications, through PSU, are recognized throughout the workforce. Funding is available for interested participants to pursue industry certifications in cybersecurity.
About the OCCoE
Established by Oregon House Bill 2049 (2023), the OCCoE represents a collaborative effort between Portland State University, Oregon State University, and University of Oregon with a joint mission: to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world applications in cybersecurity across the state of Oregon. Through collaborative educational and workforce development programs, research initiatives, industry outreach programs, and educational workshops, we aim to empower individuals, local governments, regional governments, special districts, tribal governments, educational service districts, public school districts, and other public entities with the knowledge and tools to combat cyber threats and improve their cyber resilience.
About the funding
Portland State University was issued funding through the State of Oregon, acting by and through its Higher Education Coordinating Commission (“HECC”) through a Request for Applications (“RFA”) to award grants to eligible entities that administer workforce programs in the technology sector as authorized by ORS 660.400.
Contact
If you have any questions about this program or would like more information, please contact Sullivan at suswift@pdx.edu.