MassBay Community College is only the third community college in New England and the first in Massachusetts to be designated a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C).. Only 20 colleges in New England have the CAE-CD certification.
The CAE-CD is awarded to institutions that make significant contributions to reducing threats to the nation’s infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense and providing the country with an influx of qualified cybersecurity professionals. The prestigious CAE-CD designation is awarded to regionally accredited academic institutions that offer degrees and/or certificates in cybersecurity at the associate, bachelor’s, and graduate levels.
“We are very proud, but not surprised, that our cybersecurity programs have been recognized with this prestigious award,” said MassBay President David Podell. “Our cybersecurity programs are cutting edge and we have been training the nation’s future workforce for many years to protect our privacy and national cyber infrastructure. This award is further validation that our cybersecurity programs are among the highest quality anywhere.”
MassBay is the first and only institution of higher education in Massachusetts to offer an associate degree in cybersecurity. The CAE-CD is the second recognition MassBay’s cybersecurity programs have received from the U.S. government in the past year. In August 2023, MassBay’s program was designated a model program by the White House in the release of the Biden-Harris administration’s National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy.
Founded in 2013 as a Certificate in Cybersecurity, MassBay’s cybersecurity programs have expanded to include a Certificate in Advanced Cybersecurity and an Associate Degree in Cybersecurity. The programs recently received two significant grants to enhance their educational reach and capacity. In 2021, MassBay received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technology Education (ATE) grant titled AttrACTing the Next Generation Cybersecurity Workforce (ACT) for $598,712. The ACT grant funds will be used to diversify the cybersecurity field by recruiting, retaining, and graduating underrepresented and particularly female students in MassBay’s cybersecurity programs. In fall 2023, the college received $804,162 from the Healey-Driscoll administration as part of its $1.4 million investment to improve cyber education in Massachusetts. These funds enabled MassBay to open a Cyber Range, a state-of-the-art virtual environment where users can hone their skills in detecting, intercepting and defending against simulated cybercrimes.
The programs feature three outstanding faculty members: Shamsi Moussavi, professor of computer science and director of the MassBay Center for Cybersecurity Education, Tony Sena, professor and head of the computer science department, and Kara Lucciola, JD, professor of law and criminal justice.
“Cybersecurity affects all citizens on a daily basis, so it is critical that we have a well-trained workforce ready to protect us,” said Professor Moussavi. “The investments MassBay has made in cybersecurity have ensured that students receive the skills and knowledge they need to launch careers in the ever-evolving, complex cybersecurity industry. And in doing so, they will have a direct impact on the future of our national security and the stability of our economy.”
Enrollment is currently underway for the fall 2024 semester. Qualified Massachusetts residents who do not yet have a bachelor’s degree can attend MassBay for free if they submit a FAFSA form and submit a Free Application to MassBay by August 27, 2024. For more information about free college, visit www.massbay.edu/free.
