TSTC’s Cybersecurity program receives recognition from National Security Agency

WACO – The Associate of Applied Science degree offered by Texas State Technical College’s Cybersecurity program received designation as a CAE-CD (Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense) from the National Security Agency’s program the NCAE-C (National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity).

This is an honor held by very few two-year technical colleges across the nation.

“Designation means membership in a community of educators focused on growing our industry through sharing of resources, idea, partnerships, and experiences that can improve the quality of our curriculum,” Interim Director of Alignment for Cybersecurity Norma Colunga-Hernandez said.

Previously, TSTC’s Harlingen campus was the only one that held the designation, which the campus earned in 2018. The designation is renewed every five years and TSTC chose to extend the designation statewide.

According to caecommunity.org, TSTC earned CAE-CD designation by engaging with their community and academic activities while meeting the needs of the nation, from the government to the workforce.

CAE-CD designation is one of the three types of designations the NCAE-C offers.

For a full list of requirements for CAE-CD designation, go to bit.ly/cae-cddesignation.

Colleges that are honored by the NCAE-C program have access to special benefits including recognition from the federal government and exclusive opportunities for training, networking, competitions, job fairs, scholarships and internships for the students and instructors.

“It makes me proud that we stand out by being recognized by (the NCAE-C),” Colunga-Hernandez said. “We’re providing a quality student to the workforce in Texas. I’m proud that we’re able to contribute to that.”

Marshall campus Cybersecurity instructor Amy Hertel stressed the hard work the six TSTC campuses with the program put in to earn the coveted designation.

“It’s kind of a big deal to be a two year (college) that has that distinction,” Hertel said. “I’m excited to see what students do with it. It’s a lot of work on our part that hopefully gets them the foot they need in the door.”

TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and certificates of completion in Cybersecurity at the East Williamson County, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas and Waco campuses, as well as online. An advanced technical certificate in Digital Forensics Specialist is offered 100% online.

Cybersecurity is one of TSTC’s Performance-Based Education programs, meaning that students can move through their training at a flexible pace.

For more information on the requirements met by TSTC’s Cybersecurity program, go to cyber.tstc.edu. Registration for the spring semester is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.