Cal Poly has received $1 million in cornerstone funding to launch a fundraising campaign for Cleared for Success (CFS), a cybersecurity workforce program for students interested in careers in cybersecurity, according to a news release .
CFS is affiliated with the California Cybersecurity Institute and the School of Engineering's Noyce School of Applied Computing. CFS aims to bridge the gap between prospective graduates and their security clearance requirements and the lengthy process of being admitted to a career in the public or private sector. The press release says it does this by teaching students the importance of these qualifications and improving employment outcomes.
Kayvan Chinichian, CCI's senior director of development, said that for students interested in entering the cybersecurity industry, CFS will help guide them to opportunities that allow them to earn permits through internships and apprenticeships.
Chinichian graduated from the University of California in 2009, where he gained interest from students regarding the cybersecurity industry and the accreditation process.
“There's so much uncertainty in this industry that I wish there had been a resource to help answer these questions when I was a student, and it's been in demand for a long time. ” Chinichian said. “Authorization is only going to get more complex.”
Obtaining a cybersecurity permit can take between 6 and 18 months. Chinichian said the core of the program is to involve students interested in becoming cybersecurity professionals in the process of getting that permit faster.
“It's a matter of student choice. While we recognize that not all students will pursue the program to its natural outcome, I have always chosen the name Cleared for Success to reflect the student's desired outcome. We think it's another way to give students the most options so they can be successful in everything they do,” Chinichian said.
Chinichian said $1 million has already been donated to the CFS campaign, and the Workforce Development Program is seeking additional funding to build the effort, with next steps including hiring experts and This includes building partnerships with faculty and industry partners who will directly benefit.
“We have $1 million in the gas tank, so we look forward to announcing even bigger gifts in the future,” Chinichian said.
