Sponsor:
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Summary:
Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Acts for 2018 and 2021, and the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF), in coordination with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to offer a scholarship program to recruit and train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals to meet the needs of the cybersecurity mission of federal, state, local, and tribal governments. The goals of the CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) program are aligned with the U.S. strategy to develop a superior cybersecurity workforce. The program goals are to: (1) increase the number of qualified and diverse cybersecurity candidates for government cybersecurity positions; (2) improve the national capacity for the education of cybersecurity professionals and research and development workforce; (3) hire, monitor, and retain high-quality CyberCorps® graduates in the cybersecurity mission of the Federal Government; and (4) strengthen partnerships between institutions of higher education and federal, state, local, and tribal governments. While all three agencies work together on all four goals, NSF’s strength is in the first two goals; OPM’s in goal (3); and DHS in goal (4).
The SFS Program welcomes proposals to establish or to continue scholarship programs in cybersecurity. For more information, view the full CyberCorps(R) Scholarship for Service (SFS) solicitation (NSF 23-574).
Award:
The SFS Scholarship award supports up to three years of stipends, tuition, and allowances for students in the general area of cybersecurity. The scholarships provide academic year stipends of $25,000 per year for undergraduate students and $34,000 per year for graduate students.
Limited Submission Requirements and Timeline:
One (1) application per institution is permitted.
Only proposals approved by the Division of Research and Economic Development may be submitted to this program. For such approval, Principal Investigators (PIs) must first submit an email indicating interest to preaward@boisestate.edu by 1 PM on Friday, June 16. An additional white paper round may be conducted if necessary.
If selected to submit a full proposal, PIs must ensure that proposals meet all requirements stated in the RFP, in the announcement, and in the implementing laws and regulations related to this grant program.
Key Submission Dates:
- June 16, 2023 by 1 PM – Email indicated interest due to preaward@boisestate.edu.
- July 10, 2023 – Full proposal due to OSP
- July 17, 2023 – Full proposal due to NSF
Important Note on Requirements:
- Each scholarship recipient, as a condition of receiving a scholarship under the SFS program, enters into an agreement under which the recipient, upon receipt of their academic degree, agrees to work for a period equal to the duration of the scholarship in the cybersecurity mission of an executive agency (as defined in 5 U.S. Code § 105) or, subject to prior approval, in the cybersecurity mission of:
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- Congress, including any agency, entity, office, or commission established in the legislative branch;
- an interstate agency;
- a state, local, or tribal government; or
- a state, local, or tribal government-affiliated non-profit organization that is considered to be critical infrastructure (as defined in 42 U.S. Code § 5195c(e)).
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- During the scholarship period, students must participate in meaningful summer internships.
- To be eligible for consideration for an SFS scholarship, a student must:
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- be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States;
- demonstrate a commitment to a career in cybersecurity;
- have demonstrated a high level of competency in relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities, as defined by the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework;
- be a full-time student in a coherent formal program that is focused on cybersecurity at an awardee institution (a) with sophomore standing in an associate’s degree program; or (b) with junior or senior standing in a bachelor’s degree program; or (c) enrolled in a master’s degree program; or (d) enrolled in a research-based doctoral program.
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Did you find a limited submission opportunity? Email us at preaward@boisestate.edu.