Winston-Salem State University Adds AI Security Courses
A $500,000 grant will support an AI safety curriculum for healthcare and education students starting in 2027.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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Winston-Salem State University has received a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to build a curriculum on artificial intelligence security. The program aims to train students in healthcare and education to recognize AI system manipulation and legal vulnerabilities.
Why it matters
The initiative addresses the growing risk of data breaches in institutional systems, highlighted by the 2024 Power School cyberattack that impacted 60 million students nationwide.
The program will train an estimated 200 students annually through four modules. This follows the 2024 Power School breach which exposed social security numbers of 16,000 local staff and 910 students in North Carolina.
The players
Winston-Salem State University
An academic institution developing specialized curriculum to address AI security risks in healthcare and education.
National Science Foundation
A federal agency that supports fundamental research and education in all fields of science and engineering.
Cisco
A technology multinational specializing in networking hardware and cybersecurity infrastructure.
The details
The curriculum is designed to teach students to identify AI system manipulation and navigate the legal requirements of AI usage. The university will collaborate with Novant Health, Atrium Health, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, and Cisco to ensure the material applies to real-world healthcare and education environments. Development begins with two pilot modules in existing courses before expanding based on direct feedback from participants.
Timeline
2024: Power School cyberattack occurred.
Spring 2027: Pilot modules launch in existing courses.
Fall 2027: Full curriculum launch.
August 2029: End of grant funding period.
The Tech Race
This curriculum follows the significant data vulnerabilities exposed by the 2024 Power School cyberattack. It positions the university as a leader in training the next generation of professionals to secure critical infrastructure against AI-driven threats.
Students pursuing degrees in healthcare management and education at the university will be the first to access these modules starting in 2027. This training provides essential skills for protecting sensitive records in increasingly automated public and private sectors.
The takeaway
The success of this program will be measured by its ability to integrate cybersecurity proficiency into non-technical degree paths by 2029. Future milestones include the rollout of the two pilot modules in the spring of 2027.
Further reading
For broader trends in digital defense and institutional security, see Cybersecurity.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WXII.
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