Jefferson State Community College recently earned a Cyber Defense Designation from the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE). The CAE Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designation is awarded to regionally accredited academic institutions offering cybersecurity-related degrees including majors, minors, and/or certificates at the Associates, Bachelors and graduate levels.
“Earning this designation solidifies our commitment to providing high-quality programs that will prepare our students for successful careers once they leave Jefferson State,” said Dr. Brian Gordon, Dean of Instruction. “A couple of benefits of being a CAE-C are increased opportunities for collaborative partnerships with other CAEs and the ability to provide additional support for faculty and students.”
Institutions receiving the Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE-C) designation have met the rigorous requirements set forth by the sponsor of the program, the National Security Agency (NSA). The NSA awards CAE-C designations to institutions that commit to producing cybersecurity professionals that will reduce vulnerabilities in our national infrastructure.
Regionally accredited institutions of higher education are eligible to seek the CAE-C designation. It is a rigorous two-part application process that ensures the program of study covers critical content relevant to the profession, and that faculty are actively engaged in the profession and provide students opportunities for experiential learning in and outside the classroom. An institution or program must apply for re-designation every five academic years.
There are three types of designations schools can pursue Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research (CAE-R), and Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO). While the NSA does not provide funding to CAE-C designated institutions, once a school obtains one of these designations, it can compete for grants like the Department of Defense Cybersecurity Scholarship Program (DoD CySP) and can apply for the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Scholarship for Service program. Schools are not limited to a single designation and are encouraged to pursue more than one.
Jefferson State’s Computer Information Systems (CIS) department introduced its initial networking coursework in 1995 and received CAE-2Y recognition in 2023. Jefferson States CIS department also offers degrees in programming, cybersecurity, and web and mobile app development, with coursework leading to industry- recognized certifications. Jefferson State’s Center for Cybersecurity Education (CCE) provides information assurance, cyber defense, and ethical hacking education along with community outreach to promote best practices within and outside our campus to prepare the next generation of networking professionals.
Learn more about the program at www.jeffersonstate.edu/programs/computer-information-systems-technology/center-for-cybersecurity-education.
