Scott Carnz, Provost 

Welcome to 2023! If this year is anything like last year, there have already been 15.5 million ransomware attacks around the world at the time of this publication. In those same 12 days, 3.5 million US citizens have been affected by a cybercrime in some form. The United States is the most targeted country for cybercrime, accounting for roughly 46% of attacks globally. Yet the cybersecurity workforce—the individuals who would protect us from such attacks—has a gap of roughly 3.4 million people worldwide. 

That is why CityU is proud to be one of the National Security Administration’s (NSA) National Centers for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C), helping to train the workforce that combats the ever-growing threat from malicious actors around the world. The NCAE-C program is akin to a programmatic accreditation that recognizes universities whose curriculum meets established standards focused on competency development, community outreach, and professional development, and actively engages in solutions to challenges facing the cybersecurity field. Another key aspect of a NCAE-C is that it “integrates cybersecurity practice within the institution across academic disciplines.” 

While the cybersecurity degrees offered by CityU are housed in the School of Technology & Computing (STC), in the coming year you will see CityU’s work in cyber education continue to expand beyond STC. Last year, STC partnered with the School of Education & Leadership (SEL) to offer training to K-12 teachers on how to teach cyber concepts at various levels of elementary education. This year, we will look to expand partnerships within SEL as well explore additional partnerships with the Schools of Health & Social Sciences and Business & Management. 

In today’s world there is not a discipline or field that is not impacted in some way by issues related to cybersecurity. As a university we can add value to the education we provide our students and better prepare them for the realities of work in their chosen field by addressing these issues and equipping them with the tools to face cyber challenges head on. Such partnerships also underscore the interconnected nature of the work we all do in the 21st century and serve as models for how we might continue to add value for students by drawing on those connections and enriching their educational experience through interdisciplinary cooperation. 

If you have ideas or thoughts about collaborations on campus, I’d love to hear from you. Here’s to a more cooperative and secure 2023. 

Scott Carnz, Ed.D. 

Provost