How Forced Regulation Affects Minority Underserved Communities in Cybersecurity

Abstract

The forced regulation debate has been an ongoing discussion among media, academics, and practitioners surrounding several elements of the plan. The underlying challenge would constitute extreme problems and issues for minorities in underserved communities seeking to attain a collegiate education, especially in the cybersecurity market, where minority representation is still one of the lowest among other collegiate majors and disciplines. Forced regulation specifically details the complete removal of the Department of Education. If implemented, many minorities in underserved communities will potentially not have an opportunity to attend college. Many first and second-generation college graduates cannot afford to pay for college out of pocket. Therefore, the use of Financial Aid to assist is a primary source of an academic resource to attend college. Moreover, the extensive effects on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) would constitute a loss of dollars on Student Aid (FAFSA) to support their institution’s administrative needs. This paper will focus on how minority Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and cybersecurity programs will severely be affected in minority underserved communities. KEYWORDS: cybersecurity, diversity, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), forced regulation, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), underserved communities