Cybersecurity Awareness Month is recognized nationwide each October, encouraging individuals and organizations to build resilient digital habits while addressing emerging threats, including those driven by artificial intelligence. At Greenville Technical College (GTC), cybersecurity and artificial intelligence are priorities not just in October, but year-round. Those priorities are reflected in plans now taking shape for the college’s newest facility, the Center for Applied AI and Cyber Resiliency (CAAICR).
The need for these skills is significant. Cybersecurity professionals are in high demand across the Upstate, where current estimates show the cybersecurity workforce supply meets just 83% of employer demand. The region has 547 online job openings for cybersecurity positions, with 2,037 individuals currently employed in the field.
Demand for AI skills is also strong and increasingly extends across job functions. Forty-four percent of technology roles—including software developer, data scientist, and machine learning engineer positions—call for AI skills. At the same time, 56% of job postings for non-technology occupations mention AI.
While employer demand is growing, the talent pipeline has yet to keep pace. Only 22% of college graduates say they know enough about AI to meet their employers’ expectations. Greenville Technical College is working to close that gap by ensuring graduates have the skills and confidence to put emerging technologies to work in their careers.
A recent GTC survey found that faculty members feel comfortable with AI but are less confident about cybersecurity adoption.
“I think the results of our faculty survey are closely aligned with national trends,” said Dr. Candice Lewis, chief academic officer at Greenville Technical College. “AI and cybersecurity are two sides of the same technological coin. You need to keep up with both to enjoy the upside benefits and protect against the downside risks.”
GTC’s acceptance into the one-year National Applied AI Consortium (NAAIC) Institutional Mentorship Program will help the college build on faculty interest in AI while strengthening the knowledge, infrastructure, and partnerships needed to integrate AI education across the institution. The opportunity reflects GTC’s commitment to expanding access to artificial intelligence education and developing innovative pathways that prepare students for an evolving workforce.
The program provides community colleges with strategic guidance for integrating AI education into existing departments and developing standalone programs. Participating institutions receive dedicated faculty mentorship, professional development opportunities, support for creating an AI-focused advisory committee, access to best practices, networking opportunities with industry partners, and participation in a national community of practice focused on AI education.
GTC is already pioneering AI integration in technical and health-related fields. The college has launched the nation’s first AI welding lab at the newly opened Center for Welding and Automation Excellence. In Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting, GTC is incorporating Dentrix AI software to enhance diagnostic accuracy and help students prepare to deliver next level patient care.
The planned Center for Applied AI and Cyber Resiliency, coming to GTC’s Barton Campus, will further address workforce needs in both AI and cybersecurity. Envisioned as a state-of-the-art facility aligned with the region’s advanced technology workforce and economic development needs, CAAICR will provide real-world learning through a student-led Security Operations Center. Students will gain experience in cyber defense and monitoring, incident response simulation, and real-world security operations.
“Learning by monitoring, detecting, analyzing, and responding to cyber threats is an incredibly valuable way to build in-demand skills,” said Lewis. “Cyberattacks, as we know, are becoming more and more common. Our graduates will have the knowledge and experience to protect against them.”
Hands-on systems, networking, and hardware labs will develop technicians prepared for immediate employment, while modern computing labs will support the state’s expanding AI and data career pathways.
At 59,315 square feet and housing 18 specialized labs, CAAICR will serve more than 6,600 students each year, with 100% of GTC’s student body expected to take at least one course in the building. Programs supported by the facility will include Computer Technology, with concentrations in Networking, Systems, Cybersecurity and Programming; Cybersecurity Operations & Digital Forensics; and AI & Emerging Technologies.
Beyond serving students, the center will provide corporate training in applied AI and cyber resiliency to strengthen the skills of the region’s existing workforce.
“The combination of AI and cybersecurity education for current students and the Upstate talent base at large will position companies for success as they capitalize on the benefits of AI while mitigating the accompanying risks,” said Dr. Kelvin Byrd, chief economic development officer at Greenville Technical College.