PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Cheyney University is launching a community cybersecurity training program next year, in an effort to increase diversity in technology careers.
People in Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties who have never been to college are eligible for Cheyney's Workforce Development Network in Cybersecurity program.
"As the nation's first HBCU, we wanted to get most definitely more Black and brown people into that field and to be able to help them to develop some economic capital," said Kizzy Morris, Cheyney’s provost and chief academic officer.
"We don't have a lot of diversity that's out there in technical careers along the lines of cybersecurity."
Related
Students who complete the free six-month course can earn industry certifications and even jobs. The hybrid program for the first cohort of 25 students begins on campus and online in February. It's funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
"The more outreach that we can do to help our communities of color and to help diversify cybersecurity in some way, I think, the better," Morris told KYW Newsradio.
Cheyney is hoping to expand the program to other fields where workers are needed, Morris said.
Those interested should contact Morris at kmorris@cheyney.edu.