Project Title:
Expand Deployment of Pivotal Technologies (EDOPT)--A Project to Leverage HBCU Resources to Expand Effective Use of Broadband-Based Technology Applications in Underserved Communities
Funding Program:
Connecting Minority Communities Program
Project Purpose/Type:
Fayetteville State University (FSU)'s Expand Deployment of Pivotal Technologies (EDOPT) project will leverage University resources and initiatives to pilot activities designed to improve broadband utilization, remote learning, learning outcomes in STEM disciplines, entrepreneurship and cybersecurity capabilities for an expanded set of students and small businesses in surrounding underserved, under-resourced anchor communities.
City/Town/Service Area:
State(s):
-
$4,933,021.00Funding Amount$4,933,021.00Total Project Cost0.00Non-Federal Cost Share
FSU will implement the following activities: 1) FSU will distribute laptops to students with demonstrated financial need and who otherwise lack access to computers of their own. Priority would be placed on remote learners. 2) FSU will recruit, hire and train FSU student interns to serve as Community Navigators to assist small businesses in the surrounding anchor communities. 3) FSU will assist entrepreneurs and small businesses in its anchor communities to launch or enhance online presence in a cybersecure manner by: (a) providing guidance and technical assistance to improve the marketing and transactional efficacy of their online presence using faculty-led student teams; and (b) performing cybersecurity audits and recommendations through professionally-led student Community Navigators, leveraging cybersecurity assessment, training, and consultative resources offered through their nonprofit partner, the Mary S. Peake Fellowship.
Outcomes of the EDOPT project include: (1) an expansion in the number of students who are able to enroll in the institution through remote instruction; (2) an increase in the number of students with cybersecurity skills; (3) outreach to previously underserved small businesses in FSU’s anchor communities, providing awareness of opportunities to improve their online presence in a cybersecure fashion; (4) establishment of shared broadband resources available for anchor community use, with a focus on entrepreneurs and small businesses; (5) testing of emerging new virtual reality systems as a tool to improve instruction in selected science classes, both on campus and remotely; and (6) an increase in student digital literacy and enhancing project-based learning through incorporation of remote student team interaction with businesses in the Entrepreneurship Lab.
FSU students as well as the surrounding anchor community in Fayetteville, NC will benefit from this project. In-need students will receive access to laptops and broadband resources. FSU students will have the opportunity to intern in the Community Navigators program and utilize innovative virtual-reality based instructional resources and the Entrepreneurship Lab. Anchor community members will benefit from technical assistance and cybersecurity resources for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and other community members will benefit from the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub.
The Mary S. Peake Fellowship 501(c)(3) is a subrecipient for this project and will: (1) Assist in student selection for Anchor Community Navigator role; (2) Provide methodology, systems, and consultative guidance for students to provide virtual cybersecurity assessments for MBEs; (3) Document certifications of the student Navigators; (4) Quantify MBEs progress on the NIST 110+ guidelines; (5) Quantify extent to which recommendations are implemented among Anchor Community MBEs; (6) Quantify estimated impacts provided by MBEs of recommendations on revenue growth and job growth; and (7) Conduct monthly webinars and regular reporting of metrics among the Anchor Community Navigators and MBEs
The applicant does fund a consortia. The applicant’s activities do occur in the surrounding anchor communities. Details of community involvement are described below.