FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. –
The
NSA.gov National Security Agency (NSA) and the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) jointly announce the designation of the following universities as
National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education for academic years 2006 through 2009:
- Clark Atlanta University (GA)
- Fountainhead College of Technology (TN)
- Illinois Institute of Technology (IL)
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania (PA)
- Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
- Southern Methodist University (TX)
- Ohio State University (OH)
- University of Alaska Fairbanks (AK)
- University of Louisville (KY)
- University of Memphis (TN)
- University of Minnesota (MN)
- University of New Orleans (LA)
The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education Program is intended to reduce vulnerabilities in the national information infrastructure by promoting higher education in information assurance and producing a growing number of professionals with information assurance expertise in various disciplines.
Designation as a Center is good for three academic years, after which a university must successfully reapply in order to retain the designation. The following universities were designated during 2003. They reapplied and were successfully evaluated against strengthened criteria.
- Auburn University (AL)
- Capitol College (MD)
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
- East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (PA)
- Florida State University (FL)
- Information Resources Management College (DC)
- Johns Hopkins University (MD)
- Naval Postgraduate School (CA)
- New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJ)
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- Portland State University (OR)
- Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ)
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (IL)
- University of Dallas (TX)
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
- University of Tulsa (OK)
- Walsh College (MI)
The designations and re-designations for 2006 result in a total of 75 Centers across 32 states and the District of Columbia.
Several additional universities submitted applications and many demonstrated strong potential as future Centers. They are applauded for their efforts and are encouraged to continue to develop their information assurance programs and to reapply.
Presentations will be made to new and re-designated Centers at 10:00 a.m., on 6 June 2006, during the annual conference of the Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education. The conference will be held at the University of Maryland University College Inn and Conference Center, Adelphi, MD.
The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security jointly sponsor the National Centers of Academic Excellence Program. This partnership was formed in April 2004 and responds to Priority III of the President's National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace of 2003 that directs the Federal Government to foster training and education programs to support the Nation's cybersecurity needs, and to increase the efficiency of existing Federal cybersecurity programs. The President's National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace refers to cyberspace as the nervous system of our Nation's critical infrastructures, and indicates that the healthy functioning of cyberspace is essential to our economy and our national security. Securing cyberspace presents a difficult strategic challenge, and information assurance education is a critical component in successfully meeting that challenge.
Universities designated as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education are eligible to apply for scholarships and grants through both the Federal and Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship Programs.
Additional information regarding the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education Program may be obtained by contacting the Public Affairs and Communications Office at (301) 688-6524 or by email at nsapao@nsa.gov.