Research Study Participation

Dear CAE-CD POC,

As the designated CAE-CD point-of-contact (POC), you and your faculty colleagues are invited to participate in an initiative that aims to better understand the influence that CAE-CD programs and their associated activities have on the career trajectories and preparedness of their alumni.

This national study sponsored by NCyTE Center has the objective of exploring how experiences within CAE-CD programs and specific program-related activities have shaped the career choices of alumni and prepared them for their professional lives. This study seeks to gather insights into the effectiveness of curriculum design, extracurricular involvement, internships, mentorships, and other program-specific factors in equipping students for the challenges and opportunities of their cybersecurity and technology-related careers.

Your participation in this initiative is critical. We believe that your encouragement will significantly motivate program alumni to contribute to this study. The findings of this research are expected to offer valuable feedback on the strengths and areas for improvement within CAE-CD programs, thereby enabling us to better serve our current and future students.

We kindly request your assistance in the following ways:

Promote Amongst Alumni: We would appreciate it if you could inform your program alumni about this study through your department’s newsletters, emails, and social media platforms. A template message and study details will be provided to facilitate this communication.

Encouragement to Participate: Personal messages from faculty members with whom alumni have had meaningful relationships can be incredibly persuasive. We encourage you to reach out directly to your former students, emphasizing the importance of their participation in shaping the future of our programs.

Feedback and Insights: We are eager to hear your thoughts on how to best engage alumni and any suggestions you may have to increase participation rates.

The study has the potential to significantly impact the continuous improvement of our CAE-CD programs and the success of our students. By understanding the level of impact between program experiences and career outcomes, we can tailor our efforts to provide an education that not only meets but exceeds the expectations and needs of our students and the cybersecurity workforce at large.

With kind regards,
Tobi West's signature
Tobi West, Ph.D.
Researcher on behalf of NCyTE Center
Technology Department Chair, Coastline College
twest20@coastline.edu

If you have any questions about the rights of research subjects or research-related injury, please contact Whatcom Community College's Office of Institutional Research by email at ascherer@whatcom.edu or by phone at 360-383-3235.

NSF Award #2054724

Question Title

* 1. Do you consent to voluntarily participate in this study?

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