MECC Foundation Receives Grant for Cyber Security Training Program

MECC Foundation Receives Grant for Cyber Security Training Program

Big Stone Gap, VA — Mountain Empire Community College will offer a new cyber security training program, thanks to a grant from the Dominion Foundation. 

Dominion recently awarded a $20,000 grant to the Mountain Empire Community College Foundation to support MECC’s development of a new Network Security Career Studies Certificate. The Network Security Career Studies Certificate will provide graduates of the Computer Networking Technology Associate Degree Program, as well as incumbent IT specialists throughout the region, with an opportunity to upgrade their network security skills for the benefit of regional employers. MECC anticipates that the program will be offered for the first time in the summer of 2016.

The 12-month certificate will be offered in an intensive and accelerated format, meeting one night per week in order to accommodate work schedules for adult students. Students will have the option to complete the courses for college credit, or as a noncredit workforce credential, depending on their professional needs. The program coursework aligns directly with three industry-recognized certifications. 

“Mountain Empire Community College is very grateful to the Dominion Foundation for providing funds to enable us to develop cyber security training. Every organization that utilizes information technology must be diligent in preventing security breaches that could result in liability, the loss of business, and a reduction in customer confidence,” said Dr. Scott Hamilton, President of Mountain Empire Community College.

“One of Dominion’s targeted areas for community giving is education, both K-12 and higher education,” noted Preston Sloane, director of the company’s Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center at St. Paul.  “Dominion believes that educational opportunity is a key to healthy personal and community growth. In that belief, we are happy to provide this grant funding to Mountain Empire Community College.”

For more information on the Dominion grant, contact the MECC Office of Community Relations at 276.523.7480. For more information on the MECC Foundation, visit www.meccfoundation.org.

-MECC FOUNDATION-