Community College Designated for Cyber Defense

Virginia Western Community College has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Students who graduate with a career studies certificate in Information Technology: Cyber Security will earn the CAE-CDE designation on their transcripts and receive the educational and employment benefits that come with it.

“Education related to cybersecurity has become a point of emphasis across Virginia in recent years,” said Amy White, Virginia Western’s Dean of STEM. “We have heard from our industry partners in the Roanoke Region that they need a strong IT workforce to protect their assets and our community. Our IT program has been leading the way and will continue to do so thanks to this national designation.”

To earn the CAE-CDE designation, Virginia Western demonstrated its robust degree programs and close alignment to specific cybersecurity-related knowledge units. Top subject matter experts in the field validated the programs and evaluated three years of graduating classes.

Virginia Western’s IT program offers two Associate of Science degrees and three Associate of Applied Science degrees. Cybersecurity is one of six career studies certificates that can be paired with an Associate’s Degree or earned separately. IT classes are offered both on-campus and online, and fast-track certifications are also available.

In support of the growing need for flexible learning spaces in cybersecurity, information technology, and computer science, Virginia Western will open a new cybersecurity lab and a new networking classroom. The facility includes advanced instructional tools, a computer lab and additional, informal workspace for students to use for group study, computer and IT hardware learning.