Cal Poly Pomona CIS Department Earns National Designation for Excellence in Information Assurance Education

The Department of Homeland Security and National Security Agency have honored Cal Poly Pomona's Computer Information Systems (CIS) department with the designation National Center of Excellence in Information Assurance Education for academic years 2005-2008.

Cal Poly Pomona is the only California State University with that designation, and one of only four institutions in the state, along with Stanford University, University of California Davis and the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.

Cal Poly Pomona submitted the Information Systems Audit option of its Master's of Science in Business Administration; and Computer Information Systems concentration (Internet Programming and Security track) of its Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration.

The National Center of Excellence in Information Assurance Education program aims to reduce vulnerability in the nation's information infrastructure. It honors 4-year colleges and graduate-level universities that produce professionals with information assurance expertise in various disciplines. During the application process, applicants are evaluated against stringent criteria and must pass a rigorous review demonstrating its commitment to academic excellence in information assurance education.

"This achievement spotlights the dedicated hard work of Dan Manson [professor], Fred Gallegos [lecturer], Steve Curl [department chair] and the entire CIS department," said Dr. Lynn Turner, Interim Dean of the College of Business Administration. "Over three years ago, this team had the vision to develop faculty expertise in this critical area of computer security. They sought involvement from industry, government agencies, and formed partnerships with a leading R&D laboratory and community colleges. They have developed and delivered state-of-the-art curricula on information assurance. It's wonderful to see all of this hard work recognized."

A ceremony to recognize the university's achievement will be held June 7 at 9:30 a.m. during the annual conference of the Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education. The conference will be held at the Georgia Tech Conference Center, Atlanta, Georgia.

The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education program is an outreach program designed and operated initially by the National Security Agency in the spirit of Presidential Decision Directive 63, National Policy on Critical Infrastructure Protection, May 1998. The program is now jointly sponsored by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security in support of the President's National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, February 2003.

For more information about the National Center of Excellence in Information Assurance Education designation, please contact CIS chair Dr. Steven Curl at (909) 869-4244.

Media Contact: Uyen Mai, 909-869-5331, utmai@csupomona.edu