In 2019 UNLV was recognized as a leader in cyber defense education by the National Security Agency (NSA) for its BS in Computer Science, Information Assurance Concentration degree program. The university's current designation is valid through academic year 2030.
Thanks to this achievement, and others, including being a CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) institution, UNLV and its students have the opportunity to help strengthen the country's cybersecurity readiness and workforce development.
In early October U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced the Cyber Centers of Excellence Partnership Act which would establish a partnership between the Department of Defense and universities designated by the NSA as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity.
The program would not only increase collaboration between top research institutions and the country's specialized military cyber units, but also create direct pathways for qualified students into federal cybersecurity careers.
“UNLV’s sustained recognition as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) underscores our dedication to cutting-edge research, hands-on training, and real-world defense. The Cyber Center of Excellence Partnership Act introduced by Senator Jacky Rosen and Senator Ted Budd creates a vital bridge between our academic rigor and the Department of Defense’s operational missions,” said Rama Venkat, Dean of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas College of Engineering. By leveraging existing programs such as our CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) initiative, this legislation will accelerate recruitment, eliminate onboarding barriers for federal service, and empower UNLV students to defend the nation’s digital ecosystem.”