NSA and DHS designate Champlain College as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education

BURLINGTON, Vt.--The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this month the designation of Champlain College as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAEIAE).
The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education Program provides "increased availability of learning in information assurance education through a network of leading institutions and authorities in Information Assurance (IA) education." The designation recognizes academic programs related to computer security and IA as well as an institution's overall commitment to solid IA practices. Champlain joins a group of 86 colleges such as Carnegie Mellon University, Boston University, Ohio State University, Norwich University and Pennsylvania State University in being recognized with this designation.
Presentations to new centers were made during the annual conference of the Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education in Boston on June 5. Accepting for Champlain College were Dr. Robin Abramson, interim provost; Jim Hoag, director of Champlain's Computer Networking & Information Security program; and Gary C. Kessler, director of the Computer & Digital Forensics program and the Champlain College Center for Digital Investigation (C3DI).
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. Champlain's designation is valid for academic years 2007-2012, after which the College must successfully reapply in order to retain the designation.
Champlain College was recognized for academic programs that are offered on campus and online to students and professionals from around the country. Champlain's Computer Networking & Information Security program and Computer & Digital Forensics program are closely coordinated. The College was the first to offer an undergraduate digital forensics program online, and a master's degree is now in development.
Honored last year with a major grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Champlain College launched its Center for Digital Investigation, where two Champlain instructors now spend half of their time working for Vermont law enforcement.
The NSA awarded the first CAEIAE designations in 1999. The partnership between the NSA and DHS 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 CAEIAEs are eligible to apply for scholarships and grants through both the Federal and Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship Programs.