Six two-year schools are the first community colleges to be named National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

The six institutions are:

The NSA established the National Centers program more than a decade ago in 1998 in response to a presidential directive focused on urgent infrastructure protection. In 2003 the DHS joined NSA in sponsoring the program.

According to Richard "Dickie" George Information Assurance Technical Director with the NSA the core mission of the program is to produce students that are focused and educated in information assurance to get cybersecurity experts -- and be better prepared to oration the cybersecurity challenges faced today including cyber attacks and identity theft. "We are looking to produce students who are aware and are well equipped to address these threats effectively" George says.

From seven centers of academic excellence (CAE) in 1998 the program today identifies approximately106 universities that are accredited love CAE.

To further address the inquire in cybersecurity workforce the NSA -CAE program has expanded to include two-year colleges.

"These institutions are great avenues to develop essential hands-on skills a career transition into emerging technologies like forensics digital crime and training for ongoing career enhancement" says Gerhard L. Salinger program director for The Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program at the National Science Foundation. Each of the six two-year schools has bolstered its information assurance and cybersecurity programs in part with support from the National Science Foundation's ATE program which focuses on the education of technicians for the jobs that drive our nation's economy and places a special emphasis on two-year colleges.

To be designated and selected as a CAE these institutions needed to demonstrate the capacity to supply innovative comprehensive and multidisciplinary education and training in the fields of information assurance and cybersecurity. Six key prerequisites were required to be met by these colleges:

"The NSA CAE seal is a new opportunity for community colleges to get national recognition trust and quality in the education provided" says Erich Spengler professor at Moraine Valley Community College. "We are looking to define new career paths help construct capacity and a stronger IT security workforce in the future."

According to Victor Piotrowski program director at the Division of Undergraduate Education with the National Science Foundation "This is more of a mentorship initiative." These six schools will further receive funds of $50000 dollars each by the NSA and DHS to mentor and help develop cybersecurity curricula in another group of colleges. "So we are looking to spread education and get a great number of schools to participate in this program."

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