$1 Million Grant Will Kickstart New KCC Cyber Security & Health Programs

By Cody Ng, Kapiʻo Staff Writer

The University of Hawaiʻi system has received a federal grant for job-driven training worth $10 million, of which Kapiʻolani Community College will be allotted $1,056,410 for new programs in cyber security and health.

This is the fourth consecutive year that UH has received the grant, which is intended to enhance the ability of community colleges to educate and train American workers for new full-time employment. The Obama administration has pledged $2 billion toward the grant program, which seeks to increase the number of community college graduates by 2020.

This is year is particularly important for KCC because it’s the first year that KCC will receive a portion of the grant.

Grants development Brandon Higa said the funds will be used to develop programs in two increasingly important fields.

The cyber security will address the increasing importance of protecting sensitive information and the high demand for trained cyber security personnel in the public, private, and military sectors. As part of this effort, Steve Singer, KCC professor of Business, Legal and Technology Education, has negotiated partnerships Servco Pacific, the City and County of Honolulu, and the National Disaster Training Center.

The health emphasis will provide existing Department of Education personnel with additional training, which in turn will allow them to expand the level of services they provide through their jobs.

KCC has partnered the Department of Education and the Waikiki Health Center on the new health education initiative.

Upon completion of their required coursework, graduates of the two programs will be qualified for employment with the programs’ respective business partners.

“It’s important because at any point in your career you can start your journey for these degrees,” Higa said.