STLCC Designated as Leader in Cybersecurity Education

St. Louis Community College remains at the forefront of educating the cybersecurity experts of the future. 

Its latest accolade came earlier this month when the College was once again named a Center for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Defense (CAE-CD). STLCC was first given the honor in 2017 and has held it since then. This latest designation lasts until 2028. 

“This is an important recognition and one we are proud of achieving,” said Craig Chott, chair of the computer and information technology department and coordinator for the school’s cybersecurity program. “We strive to provide the experiences and knowledge our students need to be leaders in the cybersecurity community when they graduate from the College.”

Administered by the National Security Administration’s National Cryptologic School, the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program forms collaborative cybersecurity educational programs with community colleges, colleges and universities that:

• Establishes standards for cybersecurity curriculum and academic excellence.
• Includes competency development among students and faculty.
• Values community outreach and leadership in professional development. 
• Integrates cybersecurity practice within the institution across academic disciplines.
• Actively engages in solutions to challenges facing cybersecurity education.

Designated schools must demonstrate they offer courses and experiences a student can reasonably accomplish while earning a degree or completing a certificate. The CAE-CD designation is awarded to regionally accredited academic institutions offering cybersecurity degrees and/or certificates at the associate, bachelor’s and graduate levels.

STLCC is one of two Missouri community colleges to earn the CAE designation, along with Metropolitan Community College in the Kansas City area. Other area colleges in the program are the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and Maryville and Webster universities.

“The College has a track record of being a leader in computer and IT education,” Chott said. “Cybersecurity is an ever-changing and ever-growing field within the IT world, and it's important that the students with whom we work continue to get the best possible education.”

Federal partners in the program include the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology/National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense Office of the Chief Information Officer, and the U.S. Cyber Command.