WC NEWS

Weatherford College and Hill College have been awarded an $800,000 Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The funding will launch the Partners Advancing Cybersecurity Training (PACT) Consortium, a regional initiative designed to fast-track students into high-demand technology careers.  

Through PACT, the colleges will design and deliver an intensive 16-week Security Operations Center Analyst workforce program. The curriculum combines focused classroom instruction, hands-on learning in a simulated SOC environment and preparation for industry-recognized certifications.  

“Weatherford College is honored to partner with Hill College through the PACT Consortium,” said WC President Tod Allen Farmer. “By working together, our colleges can offer a high-quality, short-term program that reaches students across a large area of North Central Texas and responds directly to the workforce needs of employers in IT and cybersecurity.”  

The program aligns with employer expectations for entry-level cyber defense roles and provides a direct pathway from training to employment in less than six months.  

“This grant allows Hill College to play a leading role in building a cybersecurity talent pipeline for our region,” said Dr. Thomas Mills, president of Hill College. “Working with Weatherford College and our industry partners, we will give students the practical skills, credentials, and connections they need to move into well-paying, high-demand careers that support the security of Texas businesses and communities.”  

Key industry and nonprofit partners, including BlackSwan Cybersecurity, Scinary Cybersecurity, and the U.S. Cyber Defense Center, will support the consortium with mentorship, real-world examples, mock interviews, and career coaching. The TRUE funding will also support curriculum design, cloud-based software implementation, instructional equipment, and student financial assistance for eligible cohorts.  

The grant is part of $9.9 million awarded statewide this month. The TRUE program was created to help institutions create or redesign short-term workforce education programs that lead to immediate employment in industry-aligned careers.  

“These career and technical education programs are aligned to jobs available today in Texas’s robust and diverse economy,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Wynn Rosser. “Institutions are partnering with employers, workforce boards, economic development corporations, and trade associations to develop the programs, making it a collaborative effort with the state to support our mission of building a talent-strong Texas.”  

The first cohorts of the SOC Analyst program are expected to launch in 2026 at both Weatherford College and Hill College locations.