Since the National Security Administration recognized UALR as a Center of Academic Excellence for Information Assurance Education (CAE-IAE) a year ago, students have been taking classes designed to help them improve information security when they graduate.

UALR is the only university in Arkansas to have earned the certification, which employers recognize as an indication of the school’s commitment to information assurance (IA) in a number of areas, including outreach to community colleges, the practice of IA in the classroom and in the functional areas of the university, and activity in IA practice and research. Only 93 other schools in the world have attained the ranking.

“We are proud of the work our whole University put into achieving the CAE-IAE certification,” said Dr. Srini Ramaswamy, chair of the Department of Computer Science. “Our graduates are beginning to see the advantages to completing courses within the framework of information assurance. They are getting internships and job offers with some very promising companies and governmental agencies.”

Students who study IA must take courses that focus on both computer forensics, or collecting evidence after information is compromised on a computer system, and design, the formation of computer systems and programs in a safe way designed to keep information as secure as possible. They engage in research projects tied to their areas of interest, including data visualization and system security.

“Information assurance courses help the employee have meaningful conversations with management about security issues and their ability to identify potential security issues,” said John Canatella, a computer science student who hopes to write software to help develop cures for viruses or cancer treatments.

UALR’s CAE-IAE certification will last another four years, after which the University will have to achieve recertification. In addition, the department is currently working towards the CAE-R (research) certification under the NSA.