ROSE STATE COLLEGE NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) Program Solicitation NSF

Transcription

1 ROSE STATE COLLEGE NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) Program Solicitation NSF Rose State College, a public, open admissions, associate degree-granting institution, provides avenues for successful lifelong learning through programs and services for a diverse community. PROJECT SUMMARY Rose State College is a public, two-year comprehensive community college located in Midwest City, Oklahoma, six miles east of downtown Oklahoma City. The College offered its first classes September 21, 1970, with an initial enrollment of 1,767; the fall 2005 enrollment was 8,106, of which 34 percent were minorities. Rose State College began accepting students into its Cyber Security Certificate Program in fall Due to the demand for trained cyber security technicians, the College further developed an Associate in Science Degree with a Cyber Security Option in fall The Cyber Security Program was originally marketed to local business, industry, government, and military personnel. Because of the increased interest in cyber security training, Rose State College expanded the number of course sections to accommodate more students. Since the Program was first initiated in fall 2004, enrollment for the Cyber Security Program has more than doubled. Increasingly, cyber security is becoming one of the most necessary and vital tools in the war against terrorism. The threat to our nation s cyber systems is recognized at the highest levels of government. At the National Cyber Security Summit, Tom Ridge, Former Secretary of Homeland Security, stated that cyber attacks, both domestic and international, were on the rise and called on all sectors of government and private business to be active partners in securing these vital assets. Rose State College proposes to develop a Cyber Security Scholarship Program. This $499,364 grant will enable the College to award 30 scholarships each year. The Cyber Security Scholarship Program Committee will develop and implement the Scholarship Program and will be responsible for reviewing, deliberating, and awarding the scholarships. Individual scholarship awards will be determined by the College s Financial Aid Office and based on each student s individual need to attend Rose State College. Rose State College s Cyber Security Program is receiving national attention and will bring recognition to the National Science Foundation (NSF) as well. The success of this project will be well documented and shared with the NSF, state and national educational venues for higher education, and the public. The College will work with the NSF on disseminating the success of the program. Additionally, the College will distribute press releases to various state and local newspapers and to national community college publications. Scholarships will be awarded to students working full-time towards their Associate in Science Degree (Cyber Security Option). Fifteen first-year students and 15 second-year students will be awarded a scholarship each program year. First-year scholarships will be two-year awards. However, scholarship recipients must maintain eligibility based on the scholarship criteria: admission to the Cyber Security Program, full-time student, citizen or permanent resident of the United States, 3.0 GPA, and demonstration of financial need. The design of the College s Cyber Security Scholarship Program is to create student cohorts through academic support services and social activities. These services and activities will enable the students to bond and will provide peer support during stressful times. Activities and services include tutoring, study hall sessions, mentoring, support groups, transfer assistance, career counseling, service-learning opportunities, and the development of a student club.

2 Page 2 ROSE STATE COLLEGE NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) Program Solicitation NSF Organizational Profile PROJECT DESCRIPTION Rose State College is a public, two-year comprehensive community college located in Midwest City, Oklahoma, six miles east of downtown Oklahoma City. The College offered its first classes September 21, 1970, with an initial enrollment of 1,767; the fall 2005 enrollment was 8,106, of which 34 percent were minorities. Over the years, the College has successfully evolved to accommodate the changing needs of its students and community. The philosophy of Rose State College is embedded in the corresponding principles that education is a lifelong process and that an educational institution s policies of accessibility, flexibility, and equality are the best means of providing learning opportunities for all. As a member of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, Rose State College is authorized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to award 53 academic degrees (AA, AS, AAS) and 11 certificates. This enables the College to provide programs in the following areas: general education; university transfer; career and technical education; developmental education; community services; student development services; economic development services; continuing education programs; selected statewide educational services; and institutional research. Academic programs are offered through five academic divisions: Engineering and Science, Business and Information Technology, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Health Sciences. Rose State College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association and re-accredited for 10 years in The Board of Regents of Rose State College serves as the governing body of the College with full authority over and responsibility for all aspects of the College. Each Regent is appointed for a seven-year term by the Governor of Oklahoma and confirmed through a vote of the Oklahoma State Senate. Results from Prior NSF Support Rose State College is a member of the Oklahoma Center for Information Assurance and Forensics Education Consortium (OCIAFE). The Consortium was established by a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation in 2004 to develop programs for cyber security research and education. OCIAFE is a cohesive partnership consisting of all three branches of Oklahoma s Higher Education System and includes the state s career technology centers, four community colleges, and The University of Tulsa. Through this partnership, Rose State College developed a cyber security program to educate and train students for the growing demand in information security and computer forensics. The program prepares military, government, and private industry personnel in Oklahoma and the surrounding states to battle against computer hackers and cyber-terrorism. Rose State College received approval by the National Security Agency to serve as a regional certification center for the National Science Foundation. The College is believed to be the only two-year college in the nation certified by the National Security Agency to offer certification in Information Systems Security Professional, Designated

3 Page 3 Approving Authority, System Administration in Information Systems Security, Information System Security Officer, and System Certifier (4011, 4012, 4013, 4014, and 4015). The goal of Rose State College is to become a regional certification center for the National Science Foundation s National INFOSEC Education and Training Program and to help establish Oklahoma as a leader in cyber security. Project Objectives and Plans Rose State College began accepting students into its Cyber Security Certificate Program in fall Due to the demand for trained cyber security technicians, the College further developed an Associate in Science Degree with a Cyber Security Option in fall The Cyber Security Program was originally marketed to local business, industry, government, and military personnel such as Tinker Air Force Base; Federal Aviation Administration; Boeing; Lockheed Martin; Oklahoma State agencies, and local police, fire, and sheriff s departments. Because of the increased interest in cyber security training, Rose State College expanded the number of course sections to accommodate more students. Since the Program was first initiated in fall 2004, enrollment for the Cyber Security Program has more than doubled. Rose State College proposes to develop a Cyber Security Scholarship Program to award 30 scholarships each program year. The College currently administers a similar scholarship program for disadvantaged nursing students. An assessment by the College s Director of Financial Aid indicates that the average scholarship award per student will be $3,600 based on the total amount it costs a student to attend Rose State College. Scholarship awards will be based on the individual need of each student, and no scholarship award will exceed $10,000 per year. The Director s assessment took into account tuition and fees, housing, food allowance, books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, dependent care, costs related to a disability, and miscellaneous expenses. Rose State College s Cyber Security Scholarship Program goals are compatible to those set forth by the National Science Foundation in the Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) Application: to encourage and enable academically talented but financially needy students to enter the workforce following completion of an associate degree in fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; to improve educational opportunities for students; to increase retention of students to degree achievement; to improve student support programs; and to increase the number of well educated and skilled employees in technical areas. Rose State College s Cyber Security Scholarship Program objectives are ambitious yet attainable. The objectives are designed to retain and advance students in postsecondary education leading to the successful completion of an associate degree and/or transfer to a fouryear baccalaureate degree program or career placement.

4 Page 4 Objective One (Process) Identify and select, by September 1 of each program year, 30 scholarship recipients (15 first-year students, 15 second-year students) who meet the Program s criteria of academically talented and financially needy. Objective Two (Process) One hundred percent of the participants will receive financial aid counseling. Objective Three (Process) Evaluate student support services each year to identify services and procedures that can be successfully incorporated into the Program to increase academic performance, retention, and transfer and graduation rates. Objective Four (Process) One hundred percent of all administrative requirements of the grant will be met by the College, including recordkeeping, reporting, financial accountability, and student records by cohorts. Objective Five (Performance) Ninety percent of the scholarship recipients will maintain a 3.0 GPA each semester. Objective Six (Graduation) Seventy percent of the first-year scholarship recipients will graduate within two years. Objective Seven (Graduation) Twenty percent of the first-year scholarship recipients will graduate within three years. Objective Eight (Persistence) Ninety percent of the first-year scholarship recipients will persist from fall to fall. Objective Nine (Persistence) Fifty percent of the scholarship recipient will transfer to a four-year institution. Objective Ten (Employment) Fifty percent of graduates will find employment in a related field or occupation. Rose State College has implemented a Cyber Security Scholarship Program Committee. The mission of the Committee is to develop and implement the Scholarship Program during the optional initial planning period provided by the National Science Foundation. During the planning year, the Committee will develop and identify recruitment strategies; scholarship criteria, and review and selection procedures; student support services and activities; program assessment and evaluation processes; and procedures to disseminate the results of the program. Committee members include the Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator, Dean of Business and Information Technology, Academic Counselor of Business and Information Technology, Director of Financial Aid, Dean of Students, and Associate Vice President for Information Technology. The Committee will also be responsible for reviewing, deliberating, and awarding student scholarships throughout the duration of the Scholarship Program. Individual scholarship awards will be determined by the College s Financial Aid Office and based on each student s individual financial need to attend Rose State College.

5 Page 5 Scholarships will be awarded to students working full-time toward their Associate in Science Degree (Cyber Security Option). Fifteen scholarships will be awarded each program year to first-year students. Scholarships will be two-year awards. However, scholarship recipients must maintain eligibility based on the scholarship criteria: admission to the Cyber Security Program, full-time student, citizen or permanent resident of the United States, 3.0 GPA, and demonstrate financial need. Students who drop below a 3.0 GPA or do not enroll full-time will be eligible to reapply for the scholarship the following semester if funding is available. Fifteen second-year students will be awarded scholarships the first year of the Program. A total of 30 scholarships will be awarded each program year. Students are not eligible to apply for a cyber security scholarship after their second year of receiving a scholarship. Rose State College believes that by awarding two-year scholarships will enable students to concentrate more on their studies by not having to worry about their financial obligations over the course of the Program and will increase student retention. Additionally, students will be able to make long-term plans regarding their educational goals. The financial need of each scholarship recipient will be reassessed by the Director of Financial Aid and based accordingly. By limiting scholarships to two years, Rose State College believes students will be more motivated to complete their degree program within the two years. First-year scholarship recipients for program year five will only be awarded for one year. However, Rose State College is committed to assisting these students apply for state and federal financial aid, Rose State College Foundation scholarships, and other academic scholarships and tuition assistance programs. Program Year 1 Program Year 2 Program Year 3 Program Year 4 Program Year 5 Optional 15 first-year 15 first-year 15 first-year 15 first-year planning year scholarships scholarships scholarships scholarships 15 second-year scholarships 15 second-year scholarship renewals 15 second-year scholarship renewals 15 second-year scholarship renewals Research shows that cohorts enable students to bond together and provide an avenue for positive reinforcement. The current literature shows that students who participate in campus activities and build relationships with other students are more likely to persist and graduate. The design of Rose State College s Cyber Security Scholarship Program is to create student cohorts through academic support services and social activities. These services and activities are described under the STEM Student Support Services and Program section of this narrative. Although scholarships will only be awarded to 30 students each year, all cyber security students will be allowed to participate in program activities and services as funding permits. Significance of Project and Rationale Increasingly, cyber security is becoming one of the most necessary and vital tools in the war against terrorism. The threat to our nation s cyber systems is recognized at the highest levels of government. In 2003, the Department of Homeland Security implemented President Bush s National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace and the Homeland Security Act of 2002 by creating the National Cyber Security Division (NCSD). The NCSD s function is to protect America s computer systems and cyberspace. It is estimated that there are over 50,000 websites

6 Page 6 devoted to computer hacking or other criminal activities. One example is the Nimda virus that inflicted $470 million in damages and infected over 2.2 million computers worldwide within two days. At the 2003 National Cyber Security Summit, Tom Ridge, Former Secretary of Homeland Security, stated that cyber attacks, both domestic and international, were on the rise and called on all sectors of government and private business to be active partners in securing these vital assets. Secretary Ridge reported that over 76,000 cyber security incidents had occurred within the first six months of 2003 alone and that 64 percent of the people surveyed by the Computer Security Institute in 2003 indicated that they have suffered financial losses because of computer breaches. The National Cyber Program is the government s attempt to develop a virtual troop of researchers, professionals, and students dedicated to securing our nation s cyber systems and infrastructures. The National Cyber Program recruits 3,000 to 4,000 individuals each year to receive cyber security training. However, according to Dr. Eugene Spafford, supervisor of Purdue University s National Science Foundation Security Program, the need for highly skilled cyber security specialists and technicians runs into the hundreds of thousands. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, computer support specialists, including specialists trained in cyber security, are projected to be among the fastest growing occupations in the United States beyond The demand is projected to increase faster than the average for all occupations. Job growth will be driven by the expansion of computer systems and by organizations adopting more sophisticated technology. As computer systems become more complex, and as businesses and government agencies become more concerned about the security of their systems, the demand for well-trained computer support personnel will continue to increase. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that in Oklahoma there are currently 20,500 men and women who are actively employed in computer service areas; 6,200 of these individuals are identified specifically as computer support specialists. Career opportunities are expected to increase as the demand for highly trained computer support specialists continues to intensify throughout the state. To be successful, these individuals will need skills in cyber security to protect against domestic and international cyber-terrorism. Rose State College s Cyber Security Program is designed to provide training in cyber security to meet the growing demand for cyber security specialists in Oklahoma and the nation. Corby Hovis, Director of Education and Human Resources at the National Science Foundation, stated that cyber security represents an important workforce need nationally. It is expected that the market for information security services will continue to increase with an estimated national economic impact into the billions of dollars. Hovis believes that two-year colleges like Rose State College will play an important role in educating the multitude of IT professionals needed to secure computer networks and investigate security breaches. Rose State College s Cyber Security Program will have an important effect on the future development of Oklahoma s workforce. Through the College s partnership with OCIAFE, the College has access to 70 percent of the state s information technology workforce. The goal of OCIAFE and Rose State College is to provide cyber education and training opportunities throughout Oklahoma and its neighboring states and it is supported by the Governor of Oklahoma, Oklahoma s Secretary of Commerce, and the Chancellor of Higher Education. Governor Brad Henry stated that security and forensic education are critical in post-9/11 America, including that all businesses and government entities must ensure that their computer networks are secure and reliable. Businesses and government agencies will require computer support personnel who are well trained to protect against hackers and cyber-terrorism. Rose

7 Page 7 State College s Cyber Security Program is working to meet the growing demand for cyber security specialists. Kathy Taylor, Secretary of Commerce for Oklahoma, recently stated that highly trained specialized information technology students not only will have incredibly marketable skills, but will attract companies to this state to those skills. Rose State College s Cyber Security Program will impact the state s economic development by creating a skilled workforce that will appeal to new businesses. Based on the College s projected on-campus cyber security enrollment over the next two years, and using Oklahoma s most recent annual mean salary of $26,000 (U.S. Department of Labor) for computer support specialists, the economic impact could be as high as $2.6 million annually. Rose State College is also in the developmental stages of creating a mobile cyber security training lab that will provide an additional $6.5 million in economic development to the state. Finally, cyber security programs in Oklahoma are attracting a large population of minority and female students. Thirty to 50 percent of the students who enroll in one of OCIAFE s cyber security programs are either minority or female and 50 percent are firstgeneration college students. Rose State College also serves a large percentage (31 percent) of students who meet the federal low-income guidelines. The College is designated by the United States Department of Education as meeting the needy students and low expenditures requirements of 34 CFR, Section 606.2/ The College has a waiver for its non-federal share of the Federal Work Study Program, the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant Program, and the Student Support Services Program under Title IV. With one of the most diverse student enrollments in the state of Oklahoma, Rose State College will work to recruit underrepresented groups and underprivileged individuals to create a well trained, diverse workforce that will attract business and industry to the state. Activities on Which the Current Project Builds Rose State College s Cyber Security Scholarship Program will build upon the College s partnership with the Oklahoma Center for Information Assurance and Forensics Education Consortium. The Consortium was established by a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation in 2004 to develop programs for cyber security research and education. Through this partnership, Rose State College developed a cyber security program to educate and train students for the growing demand in information security and computer forensics. The program prepares military, government, and private industry personnel in Oklahoma and the surrounding states to battle against computer hackers and cyber-terrorism. Rose State College received approval by the National Security Agency to serve as a regional certification center for the National Science Foundation. Initially designed as a certificate program, the increased demand for cyber security education has prompted the College to expand the Program to an Associate s degree in Science with a Cyber Security Option. Additional course sections have been added and more are planned to meet the growing demand for cyber security education and training. S-STEM Project Management Plan Rose State College will ensure efficient administration of the Cyber Security Scholarship Program including specific directives for personnel, financial, and student records management. The College guarantees the full commitment of the institution in terms of human and physical resources and will ensure that the Program will be managed in a proper and efficient manner.

8 Page 8 The institutional commitment and dedication to the Cyber Security Scholarship Program begins with the President of Rose State College and is evident in all personnel and service areas. The Principal Investigator will be responsible for administration of the Cyber Security Scholarship Program and will ensure that all Program goals and objectives are met. The Principal Investigator s responsibilities will include: (1) chairing the Cyber Security Scholarship Planning Committee; (2) coordinating the identification and selection of scholarship recipients; (3) establishing and administering policies in accordance with institutional, state, and federal guidelines; (4) administering the budget, including approving expenditures and maintaining accounts; (5) promoting Program goals and objectives; (6) supervising tutors; (7) coordinating student support programs and activities; (8) monitoring and tracking scholarship recipients progress; (9) overseeing Program outcomes and evaluations; and (10) preparing reports as required by the National Science Foundation. Financial Management The Vice President for Business Affairs has operational responsibility for all College funds and will ultimately oversee and approve grant expenditures. The Vice President for Business Affairs will also oversee the annual audit to ensure that grant funds are spent appropriately. The College s Financial Aid Office will determine the scholarship awards for each student. Scholarship awards will be based on the total amount it costs a student to attend Rose State College. No scholarship award will exceed $10,000 per year. Individual assessments will take into account tuition and fees, housing, food allowance, books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, dependent care, costs related to a disability, and miscellaneous expenses. The College s Payroll Office will process the payroll for the tutors. Tutors will submit monthly time sheets to the Principal Investigator who will check each time sheet for accuracy, total the hours, and forward the time sheets to the Payroll Office for processing. Payroll staff will calculate all federal and state withholding allowances. Student Records Management The Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator will be responsible for maintaining appropriate data on each scholarship recipient. These records will be kept current and confidential in a secure location. After a student is awarded a scholarship, a permanent file will be created to track his or her progress. This permanent file will contain the student s eligibility and enrollment information, pre- and post-academic skills testing results; advisement and counseling memos; grades; transcripts; attendance records, if available; career goals; four-year college transfer information; academic assessment results; career attainment; and other pertinent documents. The Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator will use this information to monitor each student s progress toward Program objectives, to complete federal and state reporting requirements, and to evaluate the Program to make short-term and long-range changes. Student Selection Process and Criteria Enrollment in the College s Cyber Security Program has more than doubled since it was first established in 2004, causing the College to expand the number of course sections to accommodate more students. Due to the increased interest in cyber security training, Rose State College does not anticipate any problems recruiting students to the Program. However, College recruiters and cyber security faculty will continue to visit high schools, military, government, and private business and industry throughout the state to promote the Cyber Security Program.

9 Page 9 Rose State College s Business and Information Technology Division, Office of Prospective Students, Office of Enrollment Management, Office of Financial Aid, and the Cyber Security Scholarship Committee will promote and encourage students to apply for the cyber security scholarships. The scholarship application will be designed by the Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator, and Director of Financial Aid. The application must be approved by the Cyber Security Scholarship Program Committee, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Executive Vice President, and President. Applications will be displayed in public areas around campus and available to students in the Business and Information Technology Division, Office of Prospective Students, Office of Financial Aid, and Student Services Building (Academic Counseling). The Office of Prospective Students will also include the scholarship application in the College s recruitment packets. Scholarship Criteria Must be admitted to the Cyber Security Program; Must be a full-time student; Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; Must have a 3.0 GPA; and Must demonstrate financial need. Rose State College will determine financial need by income and situation. Income-based financial need is determined by federal low-income guidelines based on the student s family income level and size, regardless of the independent or dependent status of the student or the student s marital status. The student will be required to provide a signed copy of the parent s most recent tax return or sufficient information explaining why the tax return is not available. A student s or parent s unwillingness to provide the tax record is not sufficient. Situation-based financial need is determined by the student s placement in a disadvantaged situation. Acceptable situations include: The student has graduated from a high school that has less than 50 percent of seniors receiving a diploma; The student has graduated from a high school that has over 50 percent of students receiving free or reduced lunches; The student comes from a family that receives public assistance (e.g. TANF; AFDC; Food Stamps; Medicaid; Public Housing); The student comes from a high school where less than 50 percent of the students go to college; and The student comes from a family from which they are the first student to be enrolled in college (first-generation college student). Students will be required to provide documentation, on agency or school letterhead, where appropriate to verify that he or she meets one of the identified categories. A notarized, personal statement from the student will be sufficient to verify that the student is a firstgeneration college student.

10 Page 10 S-STEM Student Support Services and Programs Committed to the success of its students, Rose State College launched the Finish What You Start Campaign in The Campaign is a campus-wide initiative designed to improve grades and to increase retention, transfer, and graduation rates. The Campaign is supported by the Rose State College Board of Regents, President, Executive Council, President s Council, Administrative Council, Faculty Senate, Professional Administrative Staff Association, Classified Staff Association, and Student Senate. In just the first year of the Campaign the College s graduation rate increased by 4.2 percent. The focus of the Finish What You Start Campaign closely relates to that of the Federal TRIO Programs, to assist students persist and advance in postsecondary education, leading to the successful completion of the associate degree and the transfer to a baccalaureate degree program. The College has developed a network of student support services to assist students throughout their associate degree programs. These programs are freely available to all Rose State College students including students enrolled in the Cyber Security Program. Project Success! A cooperative effort between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs to provide prospective and current students with specialized guidance from faculty members. Four planned events bring students and faculty together each year. The faculty/student connections enable students to have more direct access to faculty and allow them to seek additional guidance in career and curriculum choices. Peer Mentoring Identifies and utilizes successful students to serve as peer mentors to assist incoming freshmen and high-risk students navigating through the admissions, enrollment, and financial aid processes. The student mentors also help with orientations and Project Success! Orientations Three new orientations have been developed to assist students in their transition to college: (1) New Student Orientations Prior to the start of each year, the New Student Orientations provide students with the opportunity to learn more about campus life, academic programs, student activities, college facilities, student responsibilities, personal financing, and academic support services and activities; (2) Family Orientations Designed to give family members an opportunity to learn more about campus programs, services, and the different issues affecting college students; and (3) Online Orientations Created for distance education students and for students unable to attend an on-campus orientation. The Online Orientations are accessible via the College s web site and provide students with the opportunity to learn about Rose State College, campus activities, support services, and student life. Student Success Brochure Developed by Student Affairs and the College s Marketing and Public Relations Department, the Student Success Brochure is a concise index of campus services and a quick reference directory on how to obtain those services. Raider Days An ongoing effort to welcome students back to campus and to provide students with information about the College. Raider Days are held at the beginning of each semester and include information tables around campus, free food, entertainment, student clubs, and vendor booths. Faculty/Staff Mentoring Program Designed to provide students with a faculty or staff mentor to serve as a guide during their educational pursuit. Faculty and staff mentors provide one-on-one encouragement and academic support to students who may be experiencing difficulties on and off campus.

11 Page 11 GradMax Software Provides students and College staff with the ability to track student progress. The software enables faculty to intervene quickly with students experiencing academic problems. Case Manager Select members of Rose State College faculty and staff serve as case managers for student cohorts. Case managers follow students as they progress through the College and provide encouragement, academic support, and regular progress reports. Cyber Security Student Support Services Specialized student support services will be developed by the Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator and other members of the Business and Information Technology Division for students enrolled in the Cyber Security Program. These services include: Tutoring The most pressing and requested need of students enrolled in the Cyber Security Program is individual and group tutoring. Grant funds will be used to hire qualified tutors in cyber security to enhance the students academic development. Tutoring sessions will be available during the day and evening hours. Tutors will record and provide to the Principal Investigator the names, dates, and progress reports of the students. Study Hall Study hall sessions will be scheduled for cyber security students to receive help on assignments, to have a quiet place to study, or to use College resources. Study hall sessions will be scheduled weekly and will emphasize intensive instruction and tutoring, while providing a stable environment that is conducive to learning. Participants will be able to use the College facilities including computer labs. Mentoring The Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator will develop a Cyber Security Mentoring Program. Mentors will include cyber security faculty, second-year students, and local business and industry members who specialize in computer and information technology. The Cyber Security Mentoring Program will provide a consistent contact for information, encouragement, and guidance for students. Student Club The Students for Technology and Forensics Understanding student club was established at Rose State College in The club is designed to provide both academic, extracurricular, and leadership development activities to ensure a well-rounded student. Cyber security students will be encouraged to participate in the club and in the Student Activities Transcript Program. Students who elect to participate in extracurricular activities can receive college documentation of their experiences. The Student Activities Transcript can be used to show prospective employers the student s extracurricular activities while attending college. Support Groups The Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator will create informal student support groups for participants to receive information about campus services and resources and for participants to receive encouragement and support from other cyber security students. Current literature supports the use of student cohorts and acknowledges their academic benefits. The student support groups will enable the students to bond together and provide positive reinforcement to each other during stressful times. At least one off-campus activity will be planned each month for the students to get to know each other in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Transfer Assistance The Academic Counselor of Business and Information Technology will provide transfer assistance to cyber security students to assure the successful transfer of coursework. The counselor will work with representatives from the four-year institutions to help facilitate the students transition from a two-year college to a four-year college or university.

12 Page 12 College representatives from the four-year institutions will be invited to Rose State College to meet with the cyber security students and to discuss transfer requirement and available programs. Career Counseling The Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator and division counselor will make special arrangements through the College s Student Placement Career Center to assist cyber security students with career decisions. Students will be able to take an interest, aptitude, and values test to gain information about themselves and their career interests. Career Links will be provided to the students to explore a multitude of career-related websites and to check for career opportunities. The Oklahoma Career Search Program enables students to access local labor market information and will be available to cyber security students. Personal career counseling will be available by appointment, and job placement opportunities on and off campus will be provided to cyber security students. Quality Educational Programs Rose State College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association and was re-accredited for 10 years in The Business and Information Technology Division is a member of the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs. Rose State College received approval by the National Security Agency to serve as a regional certification center for the National Science Foundation. The College is the only twoyear institution to offer certification in all five credentialing programs by the National Security Agency (4011, 4012, 4013, 4014, and 4015). Information System Security Professional Designated Approving Authority System Administration in Information Systems Security Information System Security Officer System Certifier Rose State College is recognized by the National Information Assurance Education and Training Program and Oklahoma s Office of State Finance for its security training and education programs and is part of the Oklahoma Center for Information Assurance and Forensics Education Consortium. The Principal Investigator has an Associate s, Bachelor s, and Master s degree in Computer Science and is certified as a Novell Network Administrator, CompTIA A+ and Network+ Technician, and National Security Telecommunications and Information Systems Security Instructor (4011, 4012, 4013, 4014, and 4015). The Co-Principal Investigator has a Master s degree in Computer Science and is certified as an Information Security Educator, A+ Technician, and National Security Telecommunications and Information Systems Security Instructor (4011, 4012, 4013, 4014, and 4015). Assessment and Evaluation The Rose State College Cyber Security Scholarship Program will use formative and summative evaluations throughout each program year to evaluate the success of the Program in meeting its objectives. The evaluation plan will use data collection, analysis, formative and

13 Page 13 summative evaluations, and measures that are both qualitative and quantitative in design. The plan will include assessment procedures such as evaluation forms, interviews, focus groups, comparison analysis, computerized data, and progress and student service reports for data collection and assessment of the Program. Data collected from student support services and activities will be evaluated over the life of the Program to ensure that it is successful, costeffective, and beneficial to the students. The Principal Investigator will review the progress of the Program toward meeting its objectives with cyber security faculty. These meetings will allow for quick revision or redirection of Program services when necessary. Summative evaluations will be performed at the end of each program year. Rose State College is committed to the same performance indicators as set forth by the National Science Foundation and will submit an annual performance report each program year documenting: The number and award amounts of each scholarship recipient; The number/percent of scholarship recipients who receive financial aid counseling; The number/percent of scholarship recipients who maintain a 3.0 GPA; The number/percent of scholarship recipients who graduate within two years; The number/percent of scholarship recipients who graduate within three years; The number/percent of scholarship recipients who persist from fall to fall; The number/percent of scholarship recipients who transfer to a four-year institution; and The number/percent of graduates who find employment in a related field or occupation. Making progress toward achieving Program objectives (Formative Evaluation) The formative evaluation process will be conducted by the Principal Investigator as part of the Program s regular operation using management information to identify progress toward achieving Program objectives. During faculty meetings, the Principal Investigator will review with each faculty member the progress toward meeting the Program objectives by reviewing student files, services and activities provided to students, and student progress reports toward reaching individual goals. The Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator and division counselor will continuously record and evaluate the progress of each student. The staff will maintain current records on all students such as grades, GPAs, tests, ACT and SAT scores, academic standing, transfer assistance, and graduation expectations. Faculty will meet with each student to review his or her progress and adjust services when necessary. Faculty will record all contact they have with the students. Contact records will include the participant s name, date, method and purpose of contact, and any recommendations made. Tutors and mentors will be required to maintain records on the students they assist and provide a contact report to the Principal Investigator. These reports will enable the Principal Investigator to take quick action when a student is in need of additional services and to identify students who are not participating in the cyber security student support services and activities.

14 Page 14 Data obtained from the College s various assessment tools will be documented, analyzed, and used as part of the Program s reporting procedures. The formative evaluation process will include: Evaluation Forms (Tutoring; Mentoring; Academic, Career, and Personal Counseling; Support Services and Activities) Students will complete a program evaluation form at the end of each semester, which will enable the Principal Investigator to gain information about the strengths and weaknesses of the Program and to assess how beneficial students feel the Program is at meeting their individual needs. Students will also have the opportunity to evaluate the cyber security faculty and activity sponsors. The Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator and division counselor will collect, record, analyze, and provide a written report at the end of each semester. These reports will also include the number of students assisted, description of the services and activities, strengths and weaknesses of the activities and services, and any program recommendations. Faculty and Activity Sponsor Evaluations Cyber security faculty and activity sponsors will also participate in the evaluation process. Evaluation forms will be designed to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Program from the perspective of faculty and sponsors who are involved in the planning and implementation of the activities. Interviews The Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator and division counselor will conduct interviews throughout each program year with students, faculty, and activity sponsors to obtain a cross-section of opinions regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the College s Cyber Security Scholarship Program. Interviews will take place by phone and in person. The interview process will provide more in-depth information about how the students feel about Program services and activities. Focus Groups The Principal Investigator will form focus groups of students, faculty, tutors, and mentors to discuss the Program and its success in meeting the needs of the students. Focus groups will be arranged by the Principal Investigator at various times throughout the program year to provide individuals with a venue to discuss, in an open forum, issues that are of particular interest or concern to them. Comparison Analysis Evaluation As part of the College s evaluation process, the Principal Investigator will conduct a comparison analysis of the quantifiable data collected during each program year. Quantifiable data will include the number of students who graduated within two and three years, number of students who transferred to a four-year institution, and the number of students who found employment in a related field. The Principal Investigator will compare the data collected from the scholarship recipients and will do a comparison analysis with students who did not receive a scholarship through the Cyber Security Scholarship Program. The comparison analysis will enable the Principal Investigator to record and measure how students who received a scholarship fared over those who did not receive financial assistance. End-of-Semester Reports The end-of-semester reports will summarize the overall progress toward Program objectives and activities during the semester. The Principal Investigator will prepare detailed project achievements toward Program objectives using data obtained throughout the evaluation process. An Executive Summary will be prepared by the director and submitted to the College President and Executive Council. Achieving objectives at the end of the Program (Summative Evaluation) A summative evaluation will be performed at the end of each program year. The evaluation will be prepared using information from the end-of-semester reports and quantifiable data to document the

15 Page 15 Program s success at meeting each objective. Additionally, the summative evaluation process will include a yearly program audit. Annual Reports Each program year the annual report will be compiled by the Principal Investigator from the end-of-semester reports. The annual reports will be an expeditious way of monitoring and summarizing the annual progress of the Cyber Security Scholarship Program to the National Science Foundation and for the Rose State College s President s Report to the Community. Principal and Co-Principal Investigator Appraisals Faculty appraisals will be conducted on all cyber security faculty. The Dean of Business and Information Technology will evaluate the faculty in accordance with the College s Policies and Procedures Manual. Fiscal and Accounting Procedures, Reports, and Program Audit Rose State College guarantees to make fiscal and audit checks of the Cyber Security Scholarship Program conforming to the financial procedures of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). An annual audit of the Program will be performed in conjunction with the College s annual audit. The summative evaluation will: Confirm that the Program has met its objectives; Document the accomplishments of the Program; and Document how participants have benefited from the Program. Rose State College has traditionally provided structures conducive to supporting an ongoing process of program refinement to ensure successful discussion, analyses, implementation, and measurement. As a result, the Cyber Security Scholarship Program evaluation is designed with built-in internal mechanisms to guarantee the use of results and the program flexibility to make timely and appropriate changes affecting the Program with its multiple activities. Timelines have been established for completion of all evaluations. At the heart of the evaluation plan is the formative evaluation process. The frequency of formative evaluation practices is designed to facilitate the use of information learned to ensure continued success throughout the program year. When necessary, the formative evaluations will allow for timely corrective action and change. Formative evaluation practices include end-of-semester and annual evaluation of qualitative and quantitative data that will allow for adjustments or modifications to benefit the Program and students. The formative evaluation process builds in the opportunity to revise managerial decisions based on preliminary evaluation results. The summative evaluation occurs at the conclusion of each program year. Final reports will describe, in summative form, which program objectives have been achieved and what results need to be used for the continued success of the program and which activities need to be modified. In addition, the summative evaluation will provide direction and indicators to support services for students. Rose State College is committed to making programmatic changes when necessary to ensure the success of the Cyber Security Scholarship Program. The Program s evaluation plan necessitates that: All data reports and findings be submitted to the College President, the Executive Council, and the National Science Foundation;

16 Page 16 Data collection and evaluations are ongoing throughout each program year, and that program strategies and tasks be modified when necessary; The Principal Investigator be in charge of monitoring the progress toward annual objectives; The Principal Investigator be responsible for determining whether tasks are completed with established, realistic timelines or if they need to be revised if not completed as planned; and The Principal Investigator works closely with all personnel involved in the funded activities and receives from them regular status reports on specific tasks and data collection as assigned. Special Program Features Second-year cyber security students will be encouraged to tutor and mentor first-year students. This will benefit the second-year students by providing an avenue for them to reinforce their knowledge base and will benefit the first-year students by having tutors who have successfully completed the first year of the Program. No student will be allowed to tutor/mentor more than six hours per week. This is in keeping with the National Science Foundation s request that students concentrate on studies rather than on work. Additionally, students will be encouraged to participate in a service-learning project. Service-learning provides students with the opportunity to learn through active participation in community service projects as part of their academic curriculum. The purpose of servicelearning is for students to acquire a sense of civic responsibility, to enhance academic curriculum, and to provide students structured time for reflection on their service experience. Rose State College s Service-Learning Program began in 2001 and since then has grown to be one of the top Programs in the state. Starting with only 90 students, the Program has expanded to more than 500 students each semester. The impact that the College s Service-learning Program has on the community averages more than 36,500 volunteer hours each semester with a monetary value of over $200,000. The College s Coordinator of Service-learning will work with the cyber security faculty and students to develop a service-learning component that will enhance course instruction and provide hands-on educational opportunities for cyber security students.

17 Page 17 ROSE STATE COLLEGE NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) Program Solicitation NSF BUDGET BUDGET, BUDGET JUSTIFICATION, and ALLOWABLE COSTS Year One (Optional Planning Year) $2,400 PI Salary (0.51% Academic Months) 768 PI Benefits $3,168 Total Year One Year Two $108,000 Scholarships (15 first-year; 15 second-year; average scholarship $3,600) 8,640 Student Support Services and Activities (8% of scholarship amount) Tutors/Mentors 900 $8 per hour = $7,200 10% = $720 Printing, postage = $720 5,613 PI Salary (1.2% Academic Months) 1,796 PI Benefits (1.2% Academic Months) $124,049 Total Year Two Year Three $108,000 Scholarships (15 first-year; 15 second-year; average scholarship $3,600) 8,640 Student Support Services and Activities (8% of scholarship amount) Tutors/Mentors 900 $8 per hour = $7,200 10% = $720 Printing, postage = $720 5,613 PI Salary (1.2% Academic Months) 1,796 PI Benefits (1.2% Academic Months) $124,049 Total Year Two Year Four $108,000 Scholarships (15 first-year; 15 second-year; average scholarship $3,600) 8,640 Student Support Services and Activities (8% of scholarship amount) Tutors/Mentors 900 $8 per hour = $7,200 10% = $720 Printing, postage = $720 5,613 PI Salary (1.2% Academic Months) 1,796 PI Benefits (1.2% Academic Months) $124,049 Total Year Two

18 Page 18 Year Five $108,000 Scholarships (15 first-year; 15 second-year; average scholarship $3,600) 8,640 Student Support Services and Activities (8% of scholarship amount) Tutors/Mentors 900 $8 per hour = $7,200 10% = $720 Printing, postage = $720 5,613 PI Salary (1.2% Academic Months) 1,796 PI Benefits (1.2% Academic Months) $124,049 Total Year Two $499,364 Total Grant Year One (Optional Planning Year) A. SENIOR PERSONNEL Rose State College elects to participate in NSF's optional initial period of up to one year for planning. Rose State College requests.51 percent (Academic Months) of the PI s salary and benefits. Funds will be used to reimburse the College for faculty s time spent on planning and developing the program. Year Two through Five A. SENIOR PERSONNEL Funds will be used to reimburse Rose State College for the PI s time spent on administering the program and counseling participants. B. OTHER PERSONAL The most pressing and requested need of students enrolled in the Cyber Security Program is individual and group tutoring. Grant funds will be used to hire qualified tutors in cyber security to enhance the students academic development. Tutoring sessions will be available during the day and evening hours. Tutors will record and provide to the Principal Investigator the names, dates, and progress reports of the students. C. FRINGE BENEFITS Fringe benefits for SENIOR PERSONNEL (PI) is 32 percent; OTHER PERSONAL (tutors) is 10 percent. F. PARTICIPANT SUPPORT COSTS An assessment by the College s Director of Financial Aid indicates that the average scholarship award per student will be $3,600 based on the total amount it costs a student to attend Rose State College. Scholarship awards will be based on the individual need of each student, and no scholarship award will exceed $10,000 per year. The Director s assessment took into account tuition and fees, housing, food allowance, books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, dependent care, costs related to a disability, and miscellaneous expenses. Fifteen first-year and 15 secondyear scholarships will be awarded each year.

19 Page 19 G. OTHER DIRECT COSTS Costs for printing (scholarship applications, evaluation forms, etc.), postage, and additional offices supplies for the program.