The University of Illinois Springfield has been redesignated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (NCAE-C) through academic year 2027 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 expertise in cybersecurity.

“The designation affirms the strength of our cybersecurity program and it comes multiple benefits, including publication and funding opportunities for faculty members, and job and certification opportunities for students,” said Sviatoslav Braynov, head of the UIS Computer Science Department. “This is an institutional designation and its benefits extend beyond the Computer Science Department to the entire institution.”

Students that attend UIS and participate in programs affiliated with the NCAE-C 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.

About 370 top colleges and universities across 48 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are designated as NCAEs in Cybersecurity. All regionally accredited two-year, four-year and graduate level institutions in the United States are eligible to apply to become a NCAE-C school.

For more information, contact Braynov at 217-206-8245 or sbray2@uis.edu.