WHAT IS A CAE-C?
What is a Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE-C)?
Institutions that receive a CAE-C designation have met the rigorous requirements set forth by the sponsor of the program, the National Security Agency (NSA). The NSA awards CAE-C designations to institutions that commit to producing cybersecurity professionals that will reduce vulnerabilities in our national infrastructure.
There are three types of designations schools can pursue: Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research (CAE-R), and Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO). While the NSA does not provide funding to CAE-C designated institutions, once a school obtains one of these designations, it can compete for grants like the Department of Defense Cybersecurity Scholarship Program (DoD CySP) and can apply for the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Scholarship for Service program. Schools are not limited to a single designation and are encouraged to pursue more than one.
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All regionally accredited two-year, four-year, and graduate-level institutions in the United States are eligible to apply to become a CAE-C designated institution. An institution or program must apply for re-designation every five academic years.
What Are the Different CAE-C Designation Types?
Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD)
Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO)
Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research (CAE-R)
How Does My Institution Become a CAE-C?
For your institution to become a CAE-C, your organization needs to first contact the NCAE-C Program Management Office with your intention to apply for the designation. Once this information is received, you will be encouraged to fill out the National CAE in Cybersecurity Program Applicant Checklist. Once this information is collected, you enter into the mentor/reviewer program housed by the CAE Candidates Program National Center located at Whatcom Community College. This process will take several months to complete. Upon successful completion of the program, your institution becomes designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity.