Jackson College

Blockchain

Home / Academics / Academic Innovation / Blockchain

Blockchain at Jackson College

Jackson College is pleased to announce that it has received an Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant from the National Science Foundation for $349,846! The three-year grant will fund the College’s new curriculum and program for blockchain education.

What is Blockchain?

A blockchain is a new kind of database that is shared across many computers. It is peer-owned and peer-checked for accuracy, with public and private keys offered for access. Once something is added to the chain, it is very hard to change. It was first created for Bitcoin and is often linked to cryptocurrencies, but it has many other uses. Blockchain is a powerful network where people can share and track things like orders, payments, and health records. It is secure, reliable, and can’t be easily altered. More and more people around the world are starting to use blockchain, and its use is expected to grow significantly in the next few years, in energy, health care, manufacturing and many more.

Goals

Goal 1

Develop an innovative and comprehensive curriculum for blockchain education that aligns with industry standards and emerging trends.

Goal 2

Design and implement strategies to attract, recruit, and engage a broad student population in blockchain technology education.

Goal 3

Engage in, create, and deliver professional development activities for faculty and the community to enhance their expertise in blockchain concepts and technologies.

About the Grant

College awarded National Science Foundation grant for blockchain technology project

Jackson College is pleased to announce that it has received an Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant from the National Science Foundation for $349,846! The three-year grant will fund the College’s new curriculum and program for blockchain education.

Jackson will be the first college in the region to offer blockchain courses and credentials that are accredited and eligible for financial aid. The College will develop an innovative curriculum aligned with industry standards and trends, recruit and retain students interested in blockchain technology, and offer professional development for faculty and community members.

“We are so excited to receive Jackson College’s first National Science Foundation grant. Few community colleges receive NSF awards; this is a history-making moment,” said Jackson College President & CEO, Daniel J. Phelan. “Developing a blockchain program on campus will ultimately help our students in this expanding, decentralized network industry. We look forward to being at the forefront of this emerging field.”

Professors Angel Fonseca and Dianne Hill, from JC’s Computer and Information Services area, wrote the grant proposal with support from many departments across the College. They began planning with guidance from FORCCE-ATE, FORTifying Cybersecurity and Computing through ATE Grants. Through the process of learning about the technology, both professors became Blockchain Essentials certified through Cornell University.

Year One Highlights

Professional Development

Blockchain Training Alliance

Industry-recognized training modules covering blockchain fundamentals and enterprise applications.

IBM Blockchain Framework and Platforms

Hands-on exposure to IBM’s blockchain architecture and tools for building decentralized solutions.

Hedera Network on Blockchain

Introduction to Hedera’s public ledger and consensus service for scalable blockchain applications.

Khan Blockchain Training

Accessible learning paths for blockchain basics, smart contracts, and decentralized systems.

The Blockchain Academy | Web3 Certification

Certification program focused on Web3 technologies, including NFTs, DAOs, and DeFi.

Events & Engagement

Starry Night Event

Oct. 10, 2024
Presented session on Blockchain’s impact on industry, supply chains, and operations.
Blockchain Session Images

Blockchain Breakfast

June 4, 2025
Morning meetup on blockchain’s role in key industries and Jackson College’s student prep.
Blockchain Breakfast Flyer
Participant Survey Results

JTV Appearance

August 24, 2025

Manufacturing Trade Show

Sept. 25, 2025
Presented session on Blockchain’s impact on industry, supply chains, and operations.

Reports & Evaluation

Contact

Angel Fonseca

Principal Investigator
FonsecaAngelM@jccmi.edu

Dianne Hill

Co-Principal Investigator
HillDianneM@jccmi.edu