Lehigh Carbon Community College Receives National Designation

The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education (CAE2Y). The designation is through academic year 2023. This designation means that LCCC now has a position on the cyber defense landscape.

LCCC is one of 10 higher education institutions in the state with this designation and the only community college.

Higher education plays a key role in addressing the critical shortage of professionals with the skills to contribute to the protection of the National Information Infrastructure. NSA and DHS partner with academic institutions to enhance cyber security education nationwide and to develop the next generation of cyber security experts. Prospective schools are designated after meeting stringent CAE criteria and mapping curricula to topics such as cyber threats, data analysis, cryptography, policy, ethics and more. These criteria are common to all of the four-year institutions that have earned this designation and should allow LCCC students increased transfer opportunities to some of the nation’s top universities.

While many cyber security jobs are open to students who attend an accredited cyber degree program, the additional designation helps to ensure that they are studying concepts and practices deemed important by two of the largest employers in the cyber security world: the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

According to CyberSeek, an online resource designed to help close the talent gap in the industry, more than 8,000 cybersecurity jobs are currently available in Pennsylvania. Cyber security workers protect important and private information, from bank accounts to sensitive military communications. A shortage of cyber security employees throughout the country puts our digital privacy and infrastructure at risk.

Susan Miner, associate professor who spearheaded the application process, will accept the official award on behalf of LCCC at the National Cyber Summit, June 5-7 in Huntsville, Ala.

For more information on LCCC’s programs of study, visit the cyber security program page at www.lccc.edu.