Academic Engagement Overview

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains numerous relationships with members of the academic community and directly engages with school administrators, faculty, and students on a range of issues. DHS strengthened its outreach efforts to academic institutions by forming the Office of Academic Engagement (OAE), which supports DHS’s mission by building, improving and leveraging relationships with the academic community. 

Areas of Focus 

OAE’s work with the academic community occurs across DHS, and focuses on six key areas: 

• Academic Research and Faculty Exchange: Taps into the expertise of the nation's colleges and universities to address pressing homeland security needs and incorporate scientific findings into DHS’s operations; 
• Campus Resilience: Strengthens the ability of colleges and universities to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to and recover from  the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk;
• Cybersecurity: Strengthens partnerships to enhance DHS's cybersecurity recruitment efforts and support resilient campus systems and networks;
• Homeland Security Academic Programs: Supports academic programs that help create an educated and informed workforce now and in the future;
• International Students: Advances opportunities for international students to study in America while maintaining the integrity of the immigration process; and
• Student and Recent Graduate Recruitment: Focuses on the unique career opportunities that DHS offers in a variety of fields to build the next generation of homeland security leaders.

Resources and Programs for the Academic Community 

DHS’s work to support the academic community has resulted in a variety of resources, tools, initiatives, and programs for students, faculty, and academic institutions. 

To strengthen our engagement with the academic community, DHS formed the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council (HSAAC) in March 2012. The Council is a federal advisory committee comprised of university presidents and academic leaders and provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary and senior leadership at DHS on matters related to homeland security and the academic community. As a result of the Council's recommendations, DHS has embarked on a variety of initiatives to enhance our engagement with the international student community, improve college and university emergency preparedness, increase outreach to students, faculty and schools, and develop our future cybersecurity workforce leaders.