Historically Black Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, and the Jefferson City School District are partnering on a new academic initiative designed to bolster the nation’s cybersecurity workforce. The university and the local district recently announced a partnership entitled Project REACH (Realizing Equitable Access to Cybersecurity in High School).
Lincoln University has selected Capital City High School and Jefferson City High School as their first partner schools for Project REACH. As a part of the partnership, curricula from CYBER.ORG, an academic initiative from the Cyber Innovation Center that is supported through grants from the federal Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, will be integrated into course offerings at both high schools with the intent to increase interest in eventual enrollment into the computer science program at Lincoln University and thus exposing more students to the possibility of cybersecurity careers.
The program started out as morning clubs at the local high school. Lincoln University’s role is to develop certificate opportunities and provide administrative support to the program. Lincoln University faculty attend club meetings, assist with curriculum development, and arrange for external speakers and experts to visit classes.
“Working together with the Jefferson City School District and Project REACH, we are creating a seamless pathway for students from our local high schools to earn Lincoln University diplomas — providing equity to help students fulfill their dreams and also helping to fill a great need in our nation’s workforce,” said John Moseley, president of Lincoln University. “We are honored to lead this program locally and to help close the diversity gap in the cybersecurity field. This program holds great potential for our community’s students and their futures.”
