Marshall University is expanding cybersecurity workforce preparation by addressing a key employer demand: experience. Through a partnership with Intuit, the program is designed to give students the opportunity to build practical experience before landing entry-level roles in cybersecurity. James Lanham, director of operations at Marshall’s Institute for Cyber Security, said students face an employment barrier because employers want prior experience while students need a pathway to earn it. The partnership approach is intended to bridge the gap between academic preparation and job-ready capabilities. This kind of work-integrated model is becoming more common as higher education programs compete for student placements and employers tighten hiring criteria. For institutions, it is also a way to strengthen outcomes reporting and employer engagement. The Marshall effort signals a broader shift in how universities design early-career cybersecurity pipelines—moving beyond coursework alone toward structured opportunities that demonstrate applied competence.