PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg State University will receive millions in federal funding to help train students to defend against cyber threats.
U.S. Representative Derek Schmidt was on campus for the announcement of about $5 million in funding for three upcoming projects.
A large portion of that funding, roughly $2.1 million, will go toward a new state-of-the-art cybersecurity lab.
The university’s computer science program is three years old and has already exceeded enrollment expectations with more than 90 students, which staff say shows the demand for cybersecurity professionals.
“We were able to get federal investment because it is a national priority. Pitt State is well-positioned to compete for that, which is how we were able to get them in the line. But, at the end of the day, it is a national priority to build our national capacity, our workforce capacity, to deal with cybersecurity. The threat is growing, not shrinking, and that’s going to be true throughout all of our lifetimes,” said Rep. Derek Schmidt (R) – Kansas, 2nd District.
“These are not isolated investments. They align directly with our strategic plan, which is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: wherever Pittsburg State intersects with students, a business, or a community, we should add value. That is our responsibility and our opportunity,” said Thomas Newsom, PhD, Pittsburg State University President.
The remaining funding will support materials science initiatives at the university and efforts to promote campus programs.
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