Nova Southeastern University Designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cybersecurity

FORT LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – Turn on the evening news on any given day and you’re bound to see a story about a large, multi-national corporation being the latest victim of cyber hacking. And it’s just not corporations – individuals are having their identities stolen by cyber hackers every day.

To help combat this ever-increasing threat to our security, Nova Southeastern University has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense (CAE IA/CD) by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The designation will cover academic years 2014 -2021. NSU is Florida’s first 4-year institution to receive the CAE IA/CD designation.

NSU first received its designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE/IAE) in March 2005. The new CAE IA/CD designation is based on updated academic criteria for Cybersecurity education and affords each CAE institution the opportunity to distinguish its strengths in specific IA/CD focus areas. NSU was recognized for its strength in Network Security Engineering and Secure Systems Administration. The updated criteria benefit not only the institution, but also students, employers and hiring managers throughout the Nation. There is a critical shortage of professionals with the skills needed in this area, and NSU is recognized as educating and training those who will defend America’s cyberspace.

“It’s vital that we work to educate and train the next generation of computer engineers and programmers so they can protect computer systems and networks,” said James Cannady, Ph.D., a professor in NSU’s Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences. “Technology is ever-evolving, and we have to work to stay a step ahead of those who mean to do harm.”

The NSA and DHS designate certain educational programs in the field of information assurance as Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education. The CAE IA/CD designated programs must have passed stringent requirements and reviews as well as demonstrated their commitment to academic excellence in the information security field.

The intention of the CAE IA/CD designation is to increase the number of professionals with higher education in the field of information assurance with an overall goal to protect the National Information Infrastructure of the United States.

You can find out more about NSU’s information assurance/cyber security initiatives online at www.infosec.nova.edu

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About Nova Southeastern University: Situated on 314 beautiful acres in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at all levels.  NSU is an independent, not-for-profit institution with 26,000 students at campuses in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach and Tampa, Florida as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico. NSU awards associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, doctoral and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields. NSU is classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and it is one of only 37 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification. For more information, please visit www.nova.edu. Celebrating 50 years of academic excellence!

About NSU’s Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences (GSCIS): Providing educational programs of distinction, GSCIS prepares students for leadership roles in the computer and information sciences field. With internationally recognized faculty, innovative curricula, and flexible online and campus-based formats for its five Master of Science, three Ph.D. and three certificate programs – GSCIS’s graduates are sought after around the world. Designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education, their information assurance curriculum is recognized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency. For more information, please visit http://scis.nova.edu

Media Contact:
Joe Donzelli | Office of Public Affairs
954-262-2159 (office)
jdonzelli@nova.edu