Member Schools
Johnston Community College
JCC leveraged CCN funding to double its cybersecurity faculty and develop a Security Operations Center (SOC) lab. The College was awarded $645,836 by the NSF to establish a Simulated Cyber Range Training Environment, providing students with hands-on experience. Over the past two years, JCC has doubled cybersecurity program enrollment.
Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute
This year, CCCTI transitioned the majority of cybersecurity courses from online to in-person to provide hands-on experiences and foster collaborative learning. A new cybersecurity club and competition team were launched, contributing to a 100% increase in enrollment—from 23 students in 2023 to 46 in 2024.
Catawba Valley Community College
CVCC achieved its Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designation this year and introduced a cybersecurity pathway for dual-enrollment high school students. The program saw a significant enrollment increase, growing to 97 students in 2024 from 70 in 2023.
Cleveland Community College
CCC also earned its CAE-CD designation in 2024, with cybersecurity program enrollment surging to 112 students—an increase from 44 in 2022. The College is embedding cybersecurity modules into non-IT programs, particularly in manufacturing disciplines.
Fayetteville Technical Community College
FTCC was redesignated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, with overall program enrollment rising by 31% and female participation increasing by 32% in 2024. The integration of cyber ranges into eight courses has eliminated the need for textbooks, significantly reducing student costs. Also, FTCC piloted a Cyber Pro to Professor course targeting cyber professionals interested in teaching cybersecurity.
Forsyth Technical Community College
Forsyth Tech won the National SecureUS Collegiate Cyber Challenge Exercise for CAE-C Institutions in September 2023 and finished 6th in the Center of Academic Excellence Community Outreach Competition. In addition, Forsyth Tech added three new recipients of the Cyber Corps Scholarship for Service. These students complete their AAS degree and Forsyth Tech and transfer to UNC Charlotte to pursue a bachelor's degree in computer science with a cybersecurity concentration. As a requirement of the scholarship, upon graduation, students commit to three years of service in government cybersecurity roles.
Gaston College
Over the past two years, Gaston College renovated and equipped seven new cybersecurity labs. Program enrollment rose by 68%, from 61 students in 2023 to 102 in 2024. The College continues to integrate industry certification options, including Cisco Academy.
Isothermal Community College
With CCN grant support, ICC upgraded two labs, enabling enrollment growth from 11 students in 2023 to 35 in 2024. The new technology facilitates class broadcasts to the Polk Campus, benefiting high school students. ICC also updated courses to align with CAE standards as part of its CAE designation pursuit.
Stanly Community College
SCC earned CAE designation and saw increased enrollment. Three students participated in summer research projects, and one completed an internship in Alaska. The College updated courses to align with certifications and created a remote digital forensics NetLab environment using EnCase Forensic Suite.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
NC A&T’s Center for Cyber Defense earned CAE designation and saw undergraduate enrollment increase by 4%. The university launched an online cybersecurity certificate program, developed an AI & Cyber Defense lab, and introduced a course in malware analysis using AI/ML.
Piedmont Community College
PCC’s young cybersecurity program grew rapidly, increasing enrollment from 0 to 21 students in 2024. The College incorporated certifications like CompTIA Net+, Security+, and AWS Cloud Practitioner and implemented the TestOut platform to facilitate on-campus certification testing.
Richmond Community College
RichmondCC launched its first non-curriculum cybersecurity course, enrolling 15 students and providing support for certification exams. The college integrated the National Cyber League (NCL) gymnasium challenges into its SEC-160 course, fostering higher student engagement compared to prior materials. RichmondCC is set to introduce ISC2 training and KnowBe4 cybersecurity awareness programs for its EUS students in Spring 2025.
University of North Carolina Wilmington
In its second year, UNCW’s BS in Cybersecurity program grew by 29%, reaching 220 students. The College secured $625,000 in federal funding for a Maritime Cybersecurity project, addressing workforce development and risk assessment in the transportation sector.
Wake Technical Community College
Wake Tech aligned its curriculum with industry certifications and launched a new Cloud Penetration Testing course. The College expanded internships, placing 46 students at multiple organizations. Faculty earned cybersecurity certifications with CCN grant support. Wake Tech also received an NSF grant for the SENTINEL Bootcamp and won the 2024 EC-Council Academia Circle of Excellence Award.
Wayne Community College
WCC faced challenges due to outdated equipment but used CCN grant funding to acquire new resources. Plans for a new cyber lab and expanded seated classes are underway, with the lab expected to open by Summer 2025. A successful marketing campaign has bolstered program visibility.
Montreat College
Montreat enhanced transferability and certification alignment in its cybersecurity program by adjusting course structures and requirements. Three students received Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy Scholarships, and two completed internships at Fort Meade, Maryland.
Blue Ridge Community College
Enrollment in BRCC’s cybersecurity program increased by 35% in 2024, growing from 57 students to 70. The College also completed construction of an automated greenhouse for teaching technology-centered agricultural methods. This facility supports interdisciplinary learning across programs such as information technology, cybersecurity, engineering technology, and advanced manufacturing, while also preparing local agribusiness employees.