Eastern Michigan University continues to distinguish itself as one of the nation’s best institutions in information assurance through its recent designation from the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
EMU is one of four institutions in Michigan to receive the National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) for cyber defense and will receive the certificate at a formal ceremony in June, in Philadelphia, PA. The designation runs through academic year 2021.
“This designation is a very important step for our University and the information assurance program,” said Mohamed Qatu, dean of the College of Technology at EMU. “Sustaining and maintaining a robust curriculum is extremely important for us in order to produce highly skilled and much sought after Cybersecurity professionals.”
The National Security Agency program seeks to reduce vulnerability in the national information infrastructure by promoting education and research in cyber defense, and producing professionals with cyber defense expertise.
The Information Assurance Program at Eastern became an NSA-designated institution in 2005. The program was reorganized in 2014, and became the School of Information Security and Applied Computing, a stand-alone school within the College of Technology.
The designation program is open to four-year colleges and graduate-level universities that hold current regional accreditation as outlined by the Department of Education accreditation. The CAE IA/CD designation is based on updated academic criteria for Cybersecurity education rolled out by National Security Agency in 2015.
“Last summer, we went through the tedious documentation process to prove to the National Security Agency that our IA program, and EMU as a whole, met the new rigorous criteria,” said Xiangdong Sean Che, assistant professor, School of Information Security and Applied Computing at EMU. Che served as the primary point of contact at EMU for its designation with the National Security Agency.
To qualify for the designation, an institution must meet the Criteria for Measurement for CAE/Cyber Defense. Those standards involve demonstrating strength in terms of academic offerings, support of student research, program leadership, subject expertise, collaboration and community outreach.
“It was a campaign led by our school, along with the support from faculty, staff and administrators from the College of Technology, College of Business, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, as well as the EMU Graduate School,” said Che. “During the process, the University’s IT department also provided great technical support, as well as critical input regarding the institution’s security practices.”
Some of Eastern’s strengths that helped in obtaining the designation include:
- More than a decade of offering an IA program at the Institution.
- Established history of graduating students from the IA/CD program.
- A stand-alone and dedicated school (School for Information Assurance).
- A leader in the region through collaboration with local high schools in terms of shared curriculum and duel enrollment.
- An established and extensive list of articulation agreements with community colleges.
- Faculty are actively involved in cutting-edge student cyber security research activities through federal grants.
As one of the information assurance education leaders in the country, Eastern has sponsored and participated both regionally and nationally in Cybersecurity educational activities involving local high schools, community colleges and industries. The faculty and students have been actively engaged in Cybersecurity research activities supported by government agencies, such as the National Science Foundation and through local industries, including Merit Networks.
“This nationally recognized designation demonstrates to parents and students that our IA program, and EMU as a whole, has met the new rigorous criteria and establishes us as a leader in the industry,” said Che. “We will continue working to maintain this competitive advantage and graduate more highly skilled security professionals from the University.”
Students seeking a degree in Information Assurance from EMU will have the flexibility to focus on a concentration of classes that will prepare them for employment after graduation or to take that next step to an advanced degree. There are four unique concentrations to this degree: IA management, applied IA, IA cryptography and network security/administration. For more information, visit the School of Information Security and Applied Computing at EMU.
A list of CAE/IAE institutions can be found at the NSA/DHS National CAE in Cyber Defense Designationed Institutions.
About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves 22,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University’s Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University’s website.
Source: Article by Debra Johnson, Eastern Michigan University.