1. UTEP CyberCorps® SFS Program Information Session 02/23/2016 Program committee: Dr. Salamah Salamah Dr. Ann Gates Dr. Luc Longpré Dr. Christopher Kiekintveld Program Coordinator: Ms. Rosa Alfaro

2. Agenda: Introduction to the SFS program Benefits Requirements Obligations Deciding if the SFS program is right for you SFS program application process How to market yourself 2

3. SFS Program Goals and Objectives  Provide scholarships to students who will enter the workforce capable of taking a disciplined, process-oriented approach in the creation and deployment of complex, secure systems  Address the national need for workforce immersed in secure cyber- systems development 3

4. Software Engineering and Cybersecurity National Needs - 1  Software Engineering:  Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a growth in the demand for software engineers at a rate 30%-35% between 2008-2018  CNNMoney reports on the Best jobs in America in 2015:  # 1: Software Architect (23% job growth 10 year forecast)  # 8: Database Developer (23%)  # 32: Software QA Manager (15%)  IEEE-CS reports “Why Software Engineering is Still the Best Job in the World” 4

5. Software Engineering and Cybersecurity National Needs - 2  Cybersecurity:  Average Annual Cost to Company for Cyber Crime in 2013: $11,600,000  Identities Exposed in July 2013 – June 2014: 574,000,000  Increase in average Information Security Budgets in 2013: ~49%  Security Job Postings in 2015: 209,749  Growth in cybersecurity-related job postings between 2007 and 2014: 74%  Cybersecurity Professionals to Hire by US Cyber Command: 4,900  Expected Increase in Number of Security Professionals Worldwide: 4,240,000  Average Salary of Security Professionals: $91,210  Unemployment Rate in Information Security: <1%  Diversity in Cybersecurity Workforce: 5-11% 5

6. Preparation provided by UTEP’s SFS program  UTEP is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense  The Computer Science Department offers tracks in Secure Cyber- Systems in both the BSCS and MSSwE programs  Scholarship awardees benefit from joining a Cybersecurity Affinity Group  Department provides a range of extracurricular activities focused on cybersecurity Image from UTEP stock 6

7. UTEP’s SFS Program Benefits  Full tuition  $3,000 health Insurance  $2,000 School Supplies  $4,000 Travel  Annual Stipend  Undergraduate: $22,500  Graduate: $34,000 Image from UTEP stock 7

8. Requirements and Eligibility  U.S. citizenship or permanent residency  Ability to obtain U.S. Security Clearance 8

9. Requirements and Eligibility - Undergrads  GPA of 3.2 or higher  Senior Standing  Enrollment in the (BSCS/MSSwE) fast-track program  Program allows students to receive dual undergraduate and graduate credits for up to 15 hours  Student Requirements:  Completed 90 credit hours or more of the BSCS degree (at least 24 at UTEP)  GPA of 3.3 or higher 9

10. Requirements and Eligibility - Graduates  G PA of 3.5 or higher  Enrollment in the MSSwE or Ph.D.-CS programs  Ph.D. students must show evidence of advanced research activities in the area of cybersecurity 10

11. Program Obligations  Awarded students must commit to:  Complete their degree program successfully and on time  Participate in the CS department’s Cybersecurity Affinity Group  For every year of funding, student must  Complete a summer internship with a participating government agency.  Attend the annual CyberCorps® SFS job fair in Washington DC  Serve in Federal, State, Local, Tribal, or Territorial government positions after graduation. Service obligation will be equal to one year of service in a cyber-security related position for each year of funding received. 11

12. Is the SFS Program Right for You?  Advantages of working in cybersecurity for the government:  Health care benefits  Paid time off  Retirement benefits  Family-Friendly policies  Job security 12  Things to be aware of  Work environment  Choice of state agencies  Relocating https://www.usajobs.gov/

13. SFS Program Application Process - 1  Step 1:  Applicants complete, sign, and submit application form by 5:00 pm on Friday 03/04/2016  Application is available under the Scholarships Link on the CS website  http://www.cs.utep.edu/utep-sfs-program/ http://www.cs.utep.edu/utep-sfs-program/  Applicants Submit the following material with the application form:  Official transcripts  Detailed résumé (Includes names and contact information for two references)  Two-page, single-spaced statement of purpose 13

14. SFS Program Application Process - 1  Step 2:  Program committee contacts references of highly competitive applicants  Step 3:  Program committee holds individual face-to-face interview with shortlisted candidates  Step 4:  Program committee announces awards  First cohort of students will be funded starting in Fall 2016 14

15. How to Submit a Competitive Application  Résumé  Statement of purpose  Selection of references 15

16. Competitive Application – Résumé – 1 *  What is your r é sum é ? It is your history or past It is Your best marketing tool  What should you include in your r é sumé? All skills and qualifications relevant to the position your are applying for  Who should read your r é sumé? Everyone you consider to be vital to your success  It is a critical piece of your professional career Your R é sumé Tells Your Story 16 * Some slides are adopted from presentation by OPM personnel during the 2016 CyberSorps® Job Fair

17. Competitive Application – Résumé - 2  Format: Reverse chronological order  List your most recent experience first then work backwards listing previous experiences  Include job-relevant paid/unpaid experience 17

18. Competitive Application – Résumé - 3  Experience:  Amount of experience: “Managed an 8 person team over 15 years…”  Level of experience: “Routinely advised and briefed organizational senior executives on…” 18

19. Competitive Application – Résumé - 4  Accomplishments:  Who was impacted?  How significant was the impact?  What were the cost savings?  Did you exceed deadlines?  Did you receive awards or recognition?  What changed/improved? 19

20. Competitive Application – Statement of Purpose  How can a personal statement be used? 20 A personal statement is about who you are, what has influenced your career path, your professional interests, and your plans.

21. Competitive Application – Statement of Purpose  Essential points  What makes you unique  Why you are interested in particular opportunity  Why you are interested in the organization/program to which you are applying 21 A personal statement is about who you are, what has influenced your career path, your professional interests, and your plans.

22. Selling Yourself and Your Ideas: Crafting a Statement of Purpose Your Statement of Purpose should  Explain your understanding of the opportunity  Describe why you are interested in this opportunity  Differentiate yourself from other applicants  Describe your career plan and how the opportunity relates to that career plan 22

23. Before You Write-1  What are the goals of the organization or the decision makers?  How do your strengths align with their goals?  What experiences have you had that demonstrate your alignment?  Courses  Projects  Student organizations  Volunteer work  Networks 23

24. Before You Write-2  Start early and do not be afraid to start over  Decide what key points you really want to get across  What relevant unique personal experiences do you have?  Why is this opportunity for you?  How is the opportunity important to your overall goals? 24

25. Review

26. Criteria  Content  Differentiates the applicant from others  Describes the applicant’s career plan (or long-term goals) and how the SFS Program relates to that plan (or goals)  States why the applicant is interested in the SFS program and a career in the government  Makes a convincing argument that the applicant will succeed in obtaining a government job in cybersecurity  Mechanics  Clarity  Organization  Grammar  Appropriateness of detail

27. 27 Competitive Application - References Faculty vs. Character Reference  Character references are typically from employers or coworkers  Faculty references are from people who you studied with Advice  Ask for STRONG references from faculty  They should endorse your current academic/research performance and future capabilities  Share your goals (industry, professorate, academic administration) – if they don’t know them, they can’t support them Very Important  Make sure your references are aware that they might be contacted

28. Reminder: SFS Program Application Process  Step 1:  Applicants complete, sign, and submit application form by 5:00 pm on Friday 03/04/2016  Application is available under the Scholarships Link on the CS website  Applicants Submit the following material with the application form:  Official transcripts  Detailed résumé (Includes names and contact information for two references)  Two-page, single-spaced statement of purpose  Step 2:  Program committee contacts references of highly competitive applicants  Step 3:  Program committee holds individual face-to-face interview with shortlisted candidates  Step 4:  Program committee announces awards  First cohort of students will be funded starting in Fall 2016 28

29. Q/A Session 29