PCC lands grants for student support, new Cyber Security program

Pueblo Community College has been approved to receive two key grants, one to maintain its student support programs and another to launch a new high-tech field of study.

A U.S. Department of Education grant for $1.21 million will fund the continued operation of PCC’s TRiO and Upward Bound student support programs for four more years. Both programs are free to students and help them succeed academically.

TRiO Student Support Services helps first-generation, low-income and disabled students overcome various barriers to higher education. Upward Bound serves academically needy high school students and first-generation college students by preparing them to successfully begin college and attain a college degree.

The proposal was written by grant writer/manager Chris Beltran prior to his becoming PCC’s Title V director. He received assistance from the Upward Bound staff and retired Upward Bound counselor Bill Conner.

The second grant -- for $30,800 -- was approved by the Packard Foundation for PCC to set up and equip a Cyber Security lab for a new program that will begin this fall when initial classes will be offered. As a corollary to this, PCC also will receive a second grant for $15,000 per year for three years through the University of Tulsa-Oklahoma to develop the program curriculum and provide professional development training for faculty.

The University of Tulsa is the designated lead U.S. agency for cyber security training, and PCC was invited to apply for the Packard grant. Beltran and PCC Foundation director Diane Porter teamed to write the grant proposal, and it was filed by Porter through the Foundation office.

The grant will be used to purchase startup computer technology and the latest software as well as the equipment to establish a computer forensic lab for laboratory-oriented courses in cyber security. Funds will be used to build the lab and create educational materials for community presentations.

The new program will address the core areas of digital forensics, information assurance principles, secure electronic commerce, network security, enterprise security management and secure systems administration and certification. Initial classes are expected to be offered in the upcoming fall semester.

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