Forsyth Tech announced at a press event Monday, August 10, 2015, that its cybersecurity program has been named a Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Defense Education. This national designation is jointly awarded by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is the most distinguished honor for cybersecurity excellence a two- or four- year college can receive.
U.S. Senator Richard Burr, chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, was on hand to congratulate the college and present the designation. “I want to commend Forsyth Tech for being the first in the state with this designation, but I can’t say it’s surprising,” he said. “Forsyth Tech is a leader in this area because the passion for this issue exists in this state and in this community.”
“This designation indicates to the nation that Forsyth Technical Community College is the place to find highly trained and highly skilled employees in cyber defense,” said Pamela Shortt, dean of Business and Information Technology in explaining what the CAE recognition means to the program, its students and employers.
Dr. Deanne Cranford-Wesley, department chair of Forsyth Tech’s Davis iTEC Center, added that the CAE designation offers many benefits to the college’s cybersecurity program, including opening up opportunities for students to apply for scholarships, compete in cyber defense competitions and graduate with distinct career advantages in a rapidly-growing field.
Forsyth Tech provides students with flexible educational pathways to a competitive workforce for the community and global economy. The college offers associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates in more than 200 programs of study, including programs that promote personal and professional development through non-credit courses and seminars, as well as customized training for business and industry. Forsyth Tech is the fifth largest community college in North Carolina and serves more than 35,000 students with approximately 1,500 full and part-time faculty and staff.
