UIS recertified as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education

The University of Illinois Springfield has been recertified as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE/IAE) through academic year 2020 by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The goal of the program is to reduce vulnerability in our national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research.

“Programs like the one at UIS are helping to produce the professionals with information assurance expertise that are required to secure our nation's infrastructure,” said Ted Mims, head of the UIS Computer Science Department.

Students that attend UIS and participate in programs affiliated with the CAE/IAE are eligible to apply for scholarships and grants from the Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship Program and the Federal Cyber Service Scholarship for Service Program.

The UIS Computer Science Department has developed and offered courses in Systems Security and Information Assurance over the last twelve years. In September 2003, UIS became a partner with seven community colleges in a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that created a Regional Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance (CSSIA). UIS is recognized as a national leader in the field of Cyber Security and Information Assurance.

The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education Program (CAE/IAE) is open to nationally or regionally accredited four-year colleges and graduate-level universities. The mission of a nationally accredited institution must be in Information Assurance or a similar area.

A ceremony recognizing UIS' achievement will be held during an Awards Ceremony Dinner in the Saturn V Hall at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the 7th Annual Southeastern Cyber Security Summit on June 3-4, 2015 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

For more information contact Ted Mims, head of the UIS Computer Science Department, at 217/206-7326 or tmims1@uis.edu.