Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense

 

Augusta University is a designated Center of Academic Excellence, specifically in the area of Cyber Defense (CAE-CD). This designation is sponsored jointly by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security. 

All regionally accredited two-year, four-year and graduate level institutions in the United States are eligible to apply for a Center of Academic Excellence designation.  The goal of the CAE-CD designation is to offer programs designed to reduce vulnerability in our national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense and producing professionals with cyber defense expertise. Augusta University's School of Computer and Cyber Sciences is in an elite class of higher education institutions, as less than 250 universities nationwide have the Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense designation! 

What does it take to be designated as a Center of Academic Excellence?

1. Establish a “Center” or Institute that focuses on cyber  defense/ information assurance; have a website for the “Center”
2. Establish a Cyber Defense Academic Program - mapped to NICE framework/knowledge units (diagram) courses for certificates; enrollment

   
   

3. Conduct Student-based Cyber Defense Research
4. Presence of Cyber Defense Faculty and Course Load
5. Cyber Defense Faculty participate in Research/Publications (professional societies, presentations, grants, student competitions/activities)
6. Cyber Defense is a Multi-Disciplinary Practice
7. Institution Information Security Plan
8. Establish Cyber Defense Outreach Programs

Visit the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense to learn more about the Centers of Academic Excellence designation. 

Augusta University has been chosen as a coalition partner in a cybersecurity workforce development grant led by the University of West Florida. The university has received $445,000 to develop a branch of this new cybersecurity workforce development program. Augusta University joins nine other Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) designated institutions who will offer this workforce pathway program, dedicated to fast-tracking veterans and first responders in cybersecurity work roles across critical infrastructure sectors.