US Veterans Benefits Now Eligible for Cybersecurity Bootcamp at the University of Chicago

CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / June 18, 2024

Veterans and their family members have a new path to a lucrative tech career through a multi-tiered cybersecurity program at the University of Chicago offered in collaboration with ThriveDX.

GI Bill® benefits provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may now be applied toward non-credit programs and prep courses like the Cybersecurity Bootcamp at the University of Chicago-one of the first programs of its kind in the nation to be eligible for GI Bill® benefits.

Demand for cybersecurity professionals has grown three times faster than IT positions overall, with 3.5 million cybersecurity job openings projected globally by 2025. Veterans are excellent candidates to fill these roles, which the White House calls “essential” to our economy. As the significance and usage of data and technologies like AI grow, protecting this data has become increasingly crucial for the health and safety of individuals, organizations, and our nation.

UChicago celebrates this opportunity to work with veterans to enhance their skills, increase their earning potential, and find their place within a robust and connected community. GI Bill® eligible students can apply for their VA benefits via the Office for Military-Affiliated Communities (OMAC) at the University of Chicago.

“Many veterans are transitioning out of military service with skill sets and experiences that are needed by employers. However, at times, many employers may require additional credentialing for them to acquire employment,” says Terrell Odom, OMAC director. “The UCPE Cybersecurity Bootcamp, one of the only non-credit, VA-approved programs in the nation, allows transitioning service members and veterans to utilize their VA education benefits to advance their current skills in cyber or switch to a new field, and continue to help meet the needs of the nation and cyber industry, while providing for themselves and their families without having to pursue a training or educational program that takes years to complete.”

University of Chicago Professional Education offers a wide variety of bootcamps, non-credit certificates, and courses to help lifelong learners build professional knowledge, grow their careers, and enhance their skill sets in a world with rapidly evolving needs.

“University of Chicago Professional Education offers challenging, transformative learning experiences that help students around the world break through to the next level professionally. This bootcamp is unique in the access to the University and the transformative potential that it offers: learners who have no prior education or experience can gain the knowledge and skills that they need to transition into a new career in technology,” says Matt Cohn, Senior Director, Program Strategy and Innovation, at University of Chicago Professional Education.

“We are always striving to expand the reach and impact of this and our other programs, and we are grateful that we can do so by partnering with OMAC to obtain VA approval for the program to make it more accessible to veterans and their families,” Cohn added. “These are populations that are no strangers to challenge and transformation, and this program is a great fit for many who are looking to start their new career. We are so proud that we can partner with them on their professional journeys.”

The Cybersecurity Bootcamp at UChicago, which is offered in collaboration with ThriveDX, is a 10-month online program designed to give participants hands-on experience in leading cybersecurity tools and career support so they can step into a career defending our digital world.

Veterans may be eligible to defer up to 50 percent of their tuition as well as qualify for grant opportunities and organizational tuition benefits to further defray costs and ease veterans’ transition into their new career. To determine if they are eligible for VA benefits, interested parties are encouraged to contact OMAC at veterans@uchicago.edu.

“The VA is the cornerstone for all veterans and their families, providing benefits, counseling, and various other services for veterans to succeed. VA approval for this program helps give veterans the access to utilize one, if not the best, resource they have after completing service,” says Odom.

For more information on OMAC and GI Bill® eligible programs at UChicago, visit veterans.uchicago.edu. To learn more about the Cybersecurity Bootcamp at UChicago, please visit proed.uchicago.edu/cyberbootcamp-gi-bill

About The University of Chicago Professional Education

Through innovative programming, flexible options, impactful tools, powerful networking, and top-tier faculty and industry experts, we provide a distinctive educational experience to continuous learners in a wide spectrum of disciplines. We help career-oriented individuals and companies succeed in a fast-moving, interconnected world where learning new skills is essential to reaching goals.

We offer Non-Credit Professional Certificates, Open Enrollment Courses, Executive Education, Bootcamps, Professional Development, Access to For-Credit Courses, and Organizational Partnerships.