Bowie State University News June 14, 2011 NSA and DHS Recognize Bowie State University in Information Assurance - BSU Named National Center for Excellence in Information Assurance Education The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have named Bowie State University a National Center for Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE/IAE). This five-year distinction, 2011-2016, provides support for universities that promote and practice information assurance and cyber security programs, which are essential to securing the national information infrastructure. Bowie State University will be formally recognized for the achievement on June 14 at the 15th Annual Conference of the Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education in Ohio. Bowie State is the first historically black college or university (HBCU) in Maryland, and one of only a handful of HBCUs in the nation, to have earned this distinction. Other institutions with this honor include Johns Hopkins University, Purdue University, Princeton University and the University of Maryland College Park. "This highly prestigious and competitive achievement recognizes the quality of our programs and designates Bowie State University as qualified to train professionals in cyber security," said Dr. George Acquaah, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Bowie State University. "Our students will be competitive in the job market and employers will look to us for highly-trained employees in cyber security." The designation also acknowledges the University's work in preparing students for careers that ultimately assist in securing the nation's information systems. It will help Bowie State compete for federal scholarships and grants, as well as attract high-achieving students to its information assurance and cyber security programs. Bowie State programs being recognized by this distinction include the undergraduate computer and network security track; the master's and doctoral programs in computer science; and the master's program in management information systems with a concentration in information assurance. It also recognizes the security plan developed by the Division of Information Technology detailing policies, procedures and practices of the University. The NSA and DHS jointly sponsor the National Centers for Academic Excellence program, which is intended to reduce vulnerability in national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in information assurance and producing a growing number of professionals who practice the expertise in various disciplines. Colleges and universities must meet a number of stringent criteria in areas such as course certification, outreach and collaboration, as well as research, resources and faculty, in order to qualify for the -designation. Dr. Claude Turner, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science, in conjunction with Dr. Azene Zenebe, associate professor in the Department of Management Information Systems led Bowie State's efforts to secure designation as a national center of excellence. The institution has received significant grant funding in support of the development of its cyber security and information assurance programs and has held major cyber security workshops on campus. "We plan to expand our research and outreach efforts as it relates to cyber security, and enhance our partnership with NSA and DHS," said Dr. Turner. "This designation also allows us to develop two kinds of nationally-recognized certificate programs in cyber security including information systems security and information assurance for system administrators." Dr. Turner and Dean Acquaah will attend the conference on behalf of the University. Brandon Yancey, a Bowie State University graduate student majoring in communications, was a contributing writer for this press release. ABOUT BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds who seek a high quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The University places special emphasis on the science, technology, teacher education, business, and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit the website at www.bowiestate.edu. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.