ECC Manufacturing Technology Instructor, Merdikae Williams

“Preparing Manufacturing Technicians for the Challenges of Industry 4.0” was the topic of Manufacturing Technology Instructor, Merdikae Williams’ presentation during a recent workshop at Pitt Community College.

Community college stakeholders, including Williams and Dr. Bruce Panneton, vice president of instruction and chief academic officer at ECC, convened on Oct. 4 to discuss the NSF ATE grant program.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program’s goal is to hone the education of science and engineering technicians by focusing on partnerships between industry, two-year colleges and other institutions of higher education.

“A big component of this workshop was to discuss mentoring programs to community colleges in order to help them land the NSF ATE grants,” said Panneton. “We talked about how the process works, some of the things we went through to get the grant, and how to use the grant to help underserved students get access to training with the newest trends and technologies.”

ECC’s grant focused on Industry 4.0, also called the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It highlights more efficient manufacturing through the integration of digital technologies. Some Industry 4.0 technologies include robotics, automation and artificial intelligence.

According to Panneton, he and Williams shared their experiences to a group of about 30 regional community college representatives interested in growing NSF/ATE participation.

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According to Brad Hill, chief information officer and director of computer services at 91ӣ����Ƶ, a recent $50,000 state grant will enable the college to upgrade its cybersecurity system.

While the world continues to navigate the post-pandemic workplace, cybercriminals have taken advantage of the growing trend of remote working and learning.

91ӣ����Ƶ is trying to stay ahead of would-be hackers. Thanks to a $50,000 state grant, the college is upgrading its cybersecurity system with a server that focuses on identifying potential security breaches before they occur. And if a hacker does succeed, the new system can discover those activities and generate alerts so that immediate action may be taken.

“We’ve all heard a lot of reports about colleges and businesses that have been targeted with ransomware,” says Brad Hill, chief information officer and director of computer services at ECC. “They’re looking for personal data, and we’re always doing our best to make sure all of our data is secure.”

Called an appliance in the computer world, the Security Onion Solutions system is expected to strengthen cybersecurity at the college, Hill says. The three-year grant was awarded recently by the N.C. Department of Public Safety through the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.

Hill calls the system a major step forward in protecting the college’s data and assets from outside attacks.

“It is designed to analyze network traffic and system logs in real-time to detect anomalies, malware, and potential attacks across our infrastructure, and it will strengthen ECC’s ability to identify and respond to cyber threats,” Hill says.

The new system will consume all of the data from the college’s servers and store it in one central location so the data can be analyzed quickly in case of a cyberattack, “so we can easily figure out what happened, who did it, and how to fix it,” he explains. “The system also has a proactive measure to it, as well as a post-event toolkit.”

Hill says the main focus is to prevent cyberattacks. The Security Onion Solutions appliance features a powerful intrusion detection system that is designed to notify the college in real time that a threat exists.

Third party software often is vulnerable to attacks, despite constant “patching,” Hill says. Programs that store Human Resources records, students’ personal information, or even simple PDF viewer apps can have holes for hackers to exploit.

Cybercriminals often know about vulnerabilities even before an institution’s IT staff does, according to Hill. But the Security Onion Solutions appliance will constantly update itself in an effort to keep hackers at bay.

“An attacker will exploit any weakness it can find,” Hill explains. “But with the appliance, we can use the tools to find vulnerabilities and correct them before the hacker gains entrance. If they do get in, the appliance will notify us that an incident has taken place.”

The appliance can then provide forensic analysis and help the college conduct a detailed investigation and implement appropriate measures. This feature is expected to help 91ӣ����Ƶ reduce impacts from the attack and return to normal operations more quickly.

ECC’s Network Administrator Anthony Lovitt participated in an N.C. National Guard cybersecurity exercise dubbed Operation Tobacco Road. The exercise showed participants what a real-world cyberattack looks like. Lovitt received hands-on experience with the Security Onion Solution’s appliance and will be helping with the set-up and implementation at ECC.

“I’m excited by what this will enable us to accomplish in further securing our systems and strengthening our resiliency against cyberattacks,” Hill adds.

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Through a partnership with Norwalk, Conn.-based online bookstore platform, , the college now offers all required textbooks and course materials through an online bookstore and plans to rebrand the Campus Store to support the community in new ways.

“Providing easy access to course materials, and offering more affordable options to our diverse body of students as well as the ability to integrate and utilize financial aid funds, is a top priority for us,” says Debbie Batten, vice president of finance and administrative services at ECC.

ECC offers educational pathways to a competitive workforce for the community and global economy to approximately 5,500 students annually, in-person at two campuses, Tarboro and Rocky Mount, or through online course offerings. Students can earn a two-year degree, diploma, or certificate, or complete continuing education courses.

Rising textbook prices continue to be a major cost driver for the overall cost of a college education. Nationally, textbook prices have continued to outstrip the cost of most other consumer goods, adjusted for inflation. According to research compiled by the College Board, the average student spends an estimated $1,240.

A survey of more than 22,000 college students also found that the cost of required textbooks had a negative impact on student success, such as earning a poor grade, failing a course, and not registering for a course.

The launched on August 9 to support the fall term. With the integration of Akademos’ platform, ECC faculty and administrators will benefit from a suite of analytics and tools designed to better track student engagement and then use data to support student success.

Through an integration with the college’s financial aid system, students will be able to use their financial aid funds each semester to purchase materials and ensure preparedness on the first day of class. Additionally, ECC will continue to have a physical presence on campus selling spirit apparel, supplies, and general merchandise through their rebranded stores across both campuses.

“Students are experiencing increased financial hardship and strain as a result of the pandemic, particularly those who are balancing family and work responsibilities beyond the classroom. Too often they are forced to decide between academic materials and the essentials they need to learn, work, and thrive as students,” explains Raj Kaji, CEO of Akademos.

“Moving to an online experience for course materials can help curb rising costs and increase affordability and access for learners.”

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The College recently received more than $850,000 for the Rural College Broadband Access project from the North Carolina Community College System to address technology needs, access, and security.

This funding will assist ECC with critical information technology infrastructure and network security improvements.

ECC will use the funds in coordination with the NC Department of Information Technology, the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina, and the NC Community College System to strengthen fiber optics to enable future internet speeds of 10G on both the Tarboro and Rocky Mount campuses. Funds also will be used to upgrade campus WiFi and enhance outdoor wireless capabilities.

According to the NC Department of Commerce, Edgecombe County is the most economically distressed county in the state. Experts say that more than one out of every three households in the county has no internet access, which puts many 91ӣ����Ƶ students at a disadvantage, especially during the pandemic when a majority of classes are online. For these students, access provided by the College is a critical lifeline.

College officials surveyed students early in the pandemic, and a majority of their concerns were tied to technology. To meet their needs, campus libraries have remained open to current students who lack access. In addition, with the help of private donations, the College purchased Chromebooks to lend to students who lack devices.

“At no time in the history of 91ӣ����Ƶ has funding to strengthen our technology resources been more critical or more appreciated,” says ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod. “This funding will assist ECC beyond measure to advance the College and to benefit our students and their families.”

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