The Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity (CIAC), directed by iSchool Professor Barbara Endicott-Popovsky, was re-designated as a National Center for Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education.

CIAC is one of only three institutions on the west coast that is recognized as both a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education and a National Center for Academic Excellence in Research. These designations are made jointly by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

"Your 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," wrote Neal L. Ziring, Information Assurance Technical Director, NSA, in his notification letter to Popovsky.

According to one reviewer, "UW uses both traditional professors and leaders in the community to lead the education efforts in their program. This not only benefits the program, but also the faculty, students and community."

The NSA and DHS award the Academic Excellence designation to educational programs that meet stringent criteria. The goal is to reduce vulnerability in the national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in information assurance and producing a growing number of professionals with expertise in various disciplines.

Students attending these designated schools are eligible to apply for scholarships and grants through the Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship Program and the Federal Cyber Service Scholarship for Service Program.

The Information Assurance Education designation was awarded to CIAC in 2004 and the Research designation was added in 2008. The renewed designation is valid through 2017.

Read more about National Centers of Academic Excellence.