Code@TACC GenCyber

June 11 – June 17, 2023

GenCyber@TACC Cybersecurity is an innovative and exciting summer program that increases high school students' interest in cybersecurity careers and online safety. Students participate in fun, exploratory lessons and learn about online personal safety, computer networking, mobile security, cryptography, cloud computing, cyber-crime and ethics.

All current 9th through 11th grade (rising 10th and 12th grade) high school students are welcome to apply. Students from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Selected students will be accepted and housed in a campus dorm at The University of Texas at Austin (UT).

Students are expected to participate in GenCyber@TACC Cybersecurity until the conclusion of the program. All students will be invited to participate in quarterly Back@TACC STEM workshops upon completion of the program.

Application

Application Closed

Students will be notified of selections by April 28th, 2023.

Cost

Free

Prospective Activities

Use a project based-learning approach to foster creativity and problem solving skills.

Use hands-on technology to learn the basics of cybersecurity.

Learn how a cybersecurity professional would apply software security to their code and data sets.

Get a private virtual tour at the TACC Visualization Laboratory (Vislab) and data center.

Interact with TACC's cutting-edge technology systems.

Collaborate with peers, college students, scientists, researchers and engineers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dates & Ages

Sunday June 11th through Saturday June 17th, 2023.

During the summer program, participants are rising juniors and seniors in high school.

On-Site

This program will be located on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin.

Students will be housed in a campus residential hall (campus dorm). Participants are responsible for their travel to and from the UT campus at the start and conclusion of program.

Participants will be able to wash and dry clothes in their residential halls. There is no cost to wash or dry clothes in their residential halls. Laundry detergent and softener will be provided by camp.

Participants will be able to wash clothes in their residential halls therefore participants should bring one week's worth of clothes. Participants are also encouraged to bring comfortable shoes and "nice" dressy clothes for their dining etiquette dinner.

Common

Parents are encouraged to attend final presentations, on the last day of the program.

There is no cost.

Please email our office at outreach@tacc.utexas.edu or call English: 512-232-0831, Español: 512-368-7890.

Students will be supervised by college counselors. Counselors have been background-checked (also checked through the national sex offender registry) and have received child protection training.

Participation

Participants will be provided the necessary electronic and sensor components to complete the program.

Participants are expected to continue until the end of the program.

General

Participants will not need to bring laptops from home.

Participants will be provided with bed linen, and pillows however participants are responsible to bring their own toiletries (deodorant, hair products, etc).

Program is designed to prepare students for college life, including getting to know a new roommate.

University housing requires card access to enter each building. Also, exits are alarmed and connected to University PD. Also, at least two counselors are assigned to sleep in each residential building.

Health

Please let us know of any dietary restrictions so that food options will be offered to fit your student's dietary needs.

We have an on campus health service for minor treatment (512-471-4955), Monday through Friday 8am – 5pm. For emergency treatment, students will be transported to St. David's North Austin Medical Center (12221 N. Mopac).

Leaving Campus / Having Visitors

Participants will be unable to leave campus during the operating hours of the camp.

Participants will be unable to have visitors. Adults with access to our campers require background checks (also checked through the national sex offender registry) and training on protecting children from abuse. Also, adults (including counselors) are never allowed to be alone with a camper.

TACC Dress Policy

Participants have the right to dress as they choose as long as their dress meets the approved dress and grooming regulations, does not disrupt activities, is not obscene or defamatory, and does not endanger the physical health or safety of themselves or others.

Participants have the responsibility to dress and groom in such a manner so as to reflect cleanliness, modesty, safety and good taste; become familiar with and adhere to approved dress and grooming expectations of the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC).

TACC's summer participant dress code standards are designed to promote an appropriate environment for individuals who are preparing themselves for life. We ask that students not wear the following:

  • Any clothing that reveals undergarments including boxer shorts.
  • Skirts/Shorts that are not within 1 inch of the student's fingertips when their arms are extended by their side.
  • Any clothing that reveals a student's stomach, torso, chest, breasts or cleavage.
  • Halter tops, tube tops, half shirts, see through blouses or backless apron garments.
  • Clothing, accessories, or tattoos with references to alcohol, drugs, sex, tobacco, vulgar language, violence, gang related affiliations or other symbols that distract from the learning environment.
  • Clothing, jewelry, shoes, chains, or other accessories that would endanger student's safety or distract from the learning environment are not acceptable.
  • Any bedroom attire is prohibited outside of the dorms; pajama tops or bottoms, slippers, etc...

If a student's personal appearance or form of dress violates these standards, the student will be allowed to correct the problem. Many details and styles of clothing cannot be covered in the dress code; therefore, the administration (including counselors) of TACC reserves the right to make to final determination concerning appropriateness of a student's attire.

Funding

Funding provided by the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation.