The 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 2007 through 2012:

Arizona State University (AZ)
California State University, Sacramento (CA)
Capella University (MN)
Champlain College (VT)
Indiana University (IN)
Our Lady of the Lake University (TX)
Regis University (CO)
University of Advancing Technology (AZ)
University of Alabama in Huntsville (AL)
University of Illinois at Chicago (IL)
University of Missouri-Rolla (MO)
University of New Mexico (NM)

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 five academic years, after which a university must successfully reapply in order to retain the designation. The following universities were designated during 2004. They reapplied and were successfully evaluated against strengthened criteria.

Boston University (MA)
Dakota State University (SD)
Drexel University (PA)
Georgia Tech (GA)
Kennesaw State University (GA)
Mississippi State University (MS)
Norwich University (VT)
Pace University (NY)
Syracuse University (NY)
United States Military Academy at West Point (NY)
University of Detroit, Mercy (MI)
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (MD)
University of North Carolina, Charlotte (NC)
University of North Texas (TX)
University of Pittsburgh (PA)
University of Texas, Dallas (TX)
University of Washington (WA)

The designations and re-designations for 2007 result in a total of 86 Centers across 34 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 were made to new and re-designated Centers on 5 June 2007, during the annual conference of the Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education. The conference was held at Boston University, Boston Massachusetts.

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 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 and Media Affairs Office at (301) 688-6524 or by email at nsapao@nsa.gov.