A National Science Foundation grant of nearly $900,000 will support Daytona Beach-based Bethune-Cookman University’s technological future.
The grant, announced Tuesday, will upgrade the school’s infrastructure, which directly supports its mission of preparing students for modern challenges.
The effort is part of Bethune-Cookman’s ForCORE initiative in STEM education and research.
ForCORE aims to cultivate future-focused skills in students, including creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial thinking.
Bethune-Cookman President Albert Mosley called the initiative a way to drive the college founder’s vision forward.
“She built this institution on the belief that education opens doors,” Mosley said in a press release announcing the grant. “With support from the NSF, we’re stepping boldly into the future to ensure our students are equipped to walk through those doors with confidence and purpose.”
The funding directly addresses increasing cybersecurity challenges faced by higher education institutions.
Universities operate extensive and complex networks, making them frequent targets for cyberattacks.
Effectively tackling these vulnerabilities necessitates substantial investment in both infrastructure and robust security protocols.
The grant is supported by the NSF’s Cybersecurity Innovation for Cyberinfrastructure program.
It will bring several key enhancements, including reconstructing the network with new fiber lines and switches, strengthening cybersecurity protection against emerging threats and improving connectivity vital for faculty-led research and remote learning.
Additionally, the university will develop faster, more resilient disaster recovery systems.
These upgrades are designed to bring the university in line with federal cybersecurity standards. Beyond compliance, the enhancements are expected to significantly boost B-CU’s research capabilities, increase its competitiveness for future grants, and elevate its standing in secure, data-driven innovation within Central Florida.