USA School of Computing Receives Official Certification as National Center of Academic Excellence

The School of Computing at the University of South Alabama received official certification recently from the U.S. National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, re-designating it as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense.

The certification was awarded during the 19^th Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education held in Las Vegas. Based on updated academic criteria for cybersecurity education, it is valid through 2021. A University delegation, headed by Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. David Johnson, accepted the award.

NSA and DHS jointly sponsor the National Centers of Academic Excellence with the goal of reducing vulnerability in the nation’s infrastructure through higher education and research as well as producing an increasing number of professionals with artificial intelligence and cyber defense expertise in various disciplines. Students from designated institutions are eligible to apply for scholarships and grants through the Federal Scholarship for Service program supported by the National Science Foundation.

Angela Clark, senior instructor of computing, and Dr. Todd Andel, associate professor of computing, were responsible for the work that earned the re-designation.

Recently, Alabama Gov. Bentley signed a legislative resolution recognizing the School of Computing for the re-designation.