Pulaski Tech lands $5.25M in grants
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Pulaski Technical College two grants totaling $5.25 million over five years to support student programs, a news release said.
One grant for $2,248,694 will fund the Support Our Students project at Pulaski Tech, which involves replacing the college's obsolete student information system. Highlights of the new system include improved academic and financial aid advising modules and an electronic degree plan for students.
"This will be a game-changer for Pulaski Tech students and employees," David Glover, associate vice president for Information Services, said in a news release. "This grant will allow the college to upgrade to a modern technology framework that will facilitate a holistic approach to data collection, predictive analytics, and improve personnel efficiencies."
The second grant will provide $2,999,205 for the STEM Success program, which will promote subjects and careers in the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines with a focus on black students.
Under the direction of Student Success Director Kareem Moody, the project will help minority-group students reach their goals in high-demand, high-opportunity fields; increase representation of black professionals in STEM fields and K-12 education; and strengthen Pulaski Tech to meet the needs of this population.
"These two Department of Education grants will enable the college to improve services to students throughout their college experience, from first contact to graduation," Pulaski Tech President Margaret A. Ellibee said in the release.
$3M to fund work on cybersecurity
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded the University of Arkansas System's Criminal Justice Institute and four other entities a $3 million grant to prepare the United States to defend against cyberattacks and intrusions, a news release said.
The Criminal Justice Institute will lead a group sharing the grant that includes the University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security, Norwich University Applied Research Institutes, the University of Memphis' Center for Information Assurance and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. All are members of the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium.
Since 2004, members of the consortium have developed and conducted cybersecurity and cyberterrorism training nationwide to community leaders and critical infrastructure technical personnel.
Under the grant, the group will develop Web-based training opportunities, as well as hands-on and scenario-based training programs.
"With continued funding, the Consortium will be able to expand the availability of resources and training opportunities for U.S. technical personnel to better prepare them for protecting the Country's critical infrastructure from cyberattacks," Criminal Justice Institute Director Cheryl May said in the news release.
Metro on 10/02/2015