The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Ivy Tech Community College as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education (CAE2Y) through academic year 2022. Representatives from the College were presented with a certificate for the designation Wednesday evening at the National Cyber Security Summit in Huntsville, Ala.

Ivy Tech was designated as a center of excellence after meeting stringent criteria and mapping curricula to a core set of cyber defense knowledge units. The College offers degrees, certificates and technical certificates in Cyber Security/Information Assurance.

“The need for skilled workers in cyber security is increasing as our nation must continually work to meet new cyber threats that occur every minute of the day,” said Matt Etchison, vice president for Information Technology at Ivy Tech Community College. “Ivy Tech is leading the way among the nation’s community colleges and partnering with the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security to prepare students for these in-demand jobs in the IT industry.”

There are 629 average annual job openings in cyber security in Indiana according to the 2014-2024 DWD/BLS Occupational Demand Report.

According to the NSA, Ivy Tech’s “ability to meet the increasing demands of the program criteria will serve the nation well in contributing to the protection of the National Information Infrastructure.” The NSA website states, “The newest threats we face, and perhaps the fastest growing, are those in cyberspace. Cyber threats to U.S. national and economic security increase each year in frequency, scope and severity of impact. Cyber criminals, hackers and foreign adversaries are becoming more sophisticated and capable every day in their ability to use the Internet for nefarious purposes.”

Ivy Tech Community College created the Center for Cyber Security to meet the demands for high-quality cyber security education and training. Through its nationally recognized center, students receive the education and training they need for jobs that secure the community, state and nation’s computers, networks and critical infrastructure.

Ivy Tech’s Cyber Security/Information Assurance program builds the foundation to identify and fix computer security attacks. The program offers certificates in Digital Forensics, Network Penetration and Network Security, in addition to degrees and technical certificates in Cyber Security.

About National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense

The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) jointly sponsor the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) program. The goal of the program is to reduce vulnerability in our national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense and producing professionals with cyber defense expertise for the Nation.

About Ivy Tech Community College

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

Attached: Photo of representatives from Ivy Tech Community College receiving recognition on behalf of the College as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education. Pictured in the middle: Pam Schmelz, statewide chair of Cyber Security/Information Assurance at Ivy Tech Columbus; Darryl Togashi, program chair of Cyber Security/Information Assurance at Ivy Tech Fort Wayne; and Matt Etchison, vice president for Information Technology for Ivy Tech.