New grant opens pathways to KU and U.S. intelligence careers

The U.S. Intelligence Community recruits our nation’s brightest minds to maintain its complex national security operations. Thanks to a government grant, the KU Edwards Campus is partnering with regional community colleges and the Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence (IC CAE) to foster that talent and deliver exclusive career opportunities for Kansas students.

The IC CAE program is focused on recruiting students from Dodge City, Garden City, Kansas City Kansas, and Seward County community colleges — offering them the opportunity to apply for $5,000 per year in scholarship funds to attend their junior and senior years at KU. The grant specifically focuses on students interested in pursuing an undergraduate STEM degree at KU in cybersecurity, health sciences, information technology, biotechnology and criminal justice. Other than biotechnology, which requires in-person attendance on the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park, all degrees can be completed fully online. 

Learn about the Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence

In addition to the scholarships, students in the program will receive travel stipends and research funding. But the benefits go beyond dollars. IC CAE scholars will gain priority access to internships in the Intelligence Community and KU’s regional corporate network, as well as select professional development workshops and national security colloquiums. And they’ll have individualized support, receiving career mentorship from faculty and a dedicated academic success coach throughout their KU career.

The IC CAE was designed with equity and accessibility in mind. Accordingly, the prerequisites to apply are not prohibitively extensive. To be eligible for the IC CAE scholarship, students must be U.S. citizens, have at least a 3.0 GPA, and complete one qualifying class as first- or second-year students. To best meet these standards, we highly recommend (though do not require) that students apply for the IC CAE scholarship before their second year of community college.

Through KU’s partnership with the IC CAE program, you’re poised to earn a world-class education and make inroads toward a highly sought-after career field.