The National Security Agency and Ferris State University have partnered to provide NSA resources to students, faculty, and staff in the artificial intelligence, database management, data analytics, and space cybersecurity fields.
Ferris State University has partnered with the National Security Agency (or NSA) to work to prepare its students for careers in artificial intelligence, database management, data analytics, and space cybersecurity in order to help meet the growing need for skilled cybersecurity workers.
Ferris State and the NSA have signed a five-year Education Partnership Agreement in order to help increase the university’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programming to create the tools and talent necessary for protecting national security.
The partnership will provide students with the resources, technology, and experience of the federal agency.
In a press release from the school, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Bobby Fleischman was quoted on the partnership, saying, “Ferris State University earned a strong reputation in higher education information security, and the intelligence program and has engaged in partnerships to remain innovative as we all seek to meet future challenges. Ferris is excited to be part of this work providing an education that will make a difference for young students who can see their dreams of STEM careers become a reality.”
The federal government has started authorizing defense laboratories to partner up with institutions like colleges, universities, and nonprofits that are engaged in STEM fields, as well as business and law.
As part of the partnership with Ferris State, the NSA will provide experts to assist with academic programs and projects in STEM-related areas of study. The agency will also offer career and academic advice to students, while also offering program and research advice to Ferris’ faculty and staff.
The partnership will create many opportunities, according to Molly Cooper, who is a College of Business associate professor in Information Security, Artificial Intelligence, and Intelligence. “This is an exciting development for our ISI program which specializes in preparing our students through building information security skills necessary to protect all sizes of critical systems against known and future threats. We have great faculty who are highly respected in information security and intelligence and are working to prepare our students at earlier and earlier ages for careers in space cybersecurity, data analytics, database management, artificial intelligence, and more. This partnership helps enhance the opportunities we can deliver for our students,” she said.
Ferris State’s Information Science and Intelligence Program is accredited by the NSA as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defence in each of the information and assurance subject areas. It is also designated as a National Center for Digital Forensic Academic Excellence by the Department of Defense Cyber Command and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. It also has been named a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the NSA and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Ferris State University’s ISI Program’s designation as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense shows that it is helping to protect America’s national infrastructure by providing research and higher education in cyber defense as well as providing the country with a flow of professionals who are qualified for cybersecurity work. Back in 2017, Ferris’ ISI undergraduate program earned ABET’s Engineering Accreditation for Cybersecurity, and as such was one of the first seven schools in the nation to be so accredited. ABET accreditation is an indication that a school’s program has met the essential standards needed to graduate students who are ready to enter various STEM education fields. The ISI’s undergrad and the MISI Master’s programs rank very highly according to several national organizations, and are very sought after Cybersecurity degrees within the state of Michigan.
Fleishchman spoke highly of the faculty and staff who work to make the ISI program what it is, saying, “We’re proud of the work that has been and will be done by our outstanding ISI faculty led by Dr. Molly Cooper, Dr. Greg Gogolin and all our ISI faculty. The education we’re delivering matters in developing young minds into future professionals who will have opportunities to make a positive impact in information security and intelligence.”
In addition to the NSA, Ferris’ ISI program also has collaborative relationships with several Fortune 500 companies, the Pentagon, and the Department of Homeland Security.
The Information Security and Intelligence program will be one of the several programs that will move into the new Center for Virtual Learning that opens on Ferris State’s Big Rapids campus this coming fall. The facility, which cost $32.5 million including $22 million from the State of Michigan, will have next generation labs and classrooms, as well as an esports arena and an advanced Cyber Competition Center.
More information about Ferris State University can be found at the school’s website.