Working Group 3: Information Assurance Education in Two- and Four-Year Institutions
Working Group Leaders
This Working Group is led by:
- Stephen Cooper (Stanford University, USA)
- Lance Pérez (University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA)
- Elizabeth K. Hawthorne (Union County College, USA)
- and Susanne Wetzel (Stevens Institute of Technology, USA)
The full contact information for the Working Group leaders is included in the Working Group proposal attached below.
Brief Summary
The working group will build on the work of the 2009 and 2010 working groups on information assurance (IA) education. The focus of the 2011 working group is the examination of the educational missions and curricula of two- and four-year institutions with respect to IA education. More specifically, this working group will define and describe the distinct and complementary missions of two and four-year institutions with respect to IA education, describe the differences and similarities of the educational programs at two and four-year institutions, and document the challenges and opportunities for IA course articulation between two and four-year institutions.
The focus of the 2011working group is the examination of the educational missions and curricula of two and four-year institutions with respect to IA education. More specifically, this working group will define and describe the distinct and complementary missions of two and four-year institutions with respect to IA education, describe the differences and similarities of the educational programs at two and four-year institutions, and document the challenges and opportunities for IA course articulation between two and four-year institutions. By doing this now, the working group should lay a foundation for cooperation and coordination between two and four-year institutions offering IA degrees.
The first topic this working will address is to define and describe the distinct and complementary missions of two and four-year institutions with respect to IA education. This effort will look at the constituencies served by these institutions and who employs their graduates. The demographics and educational backgrounds of the students served will also be examined. We anticipate that this effort will lead to a better understanding of the educational needs of the employers of IA graduates and will have a significant impact on future curricular reforms.
The second topic this working group will address is to compare and contrast the educational programs offered by two and four- year institutions. The goal here will be to determine the similarities and differences between the curricular structure and course content of various IA educational programs. This effort is expected to determine the relative importance that is place on training in specific tools versus an emphasis on conceptual knowledge.
The third and final effort of the working group will be to examine the possibilities and challenges for course articulation between community colleges and four-year institutions. Course articulation is always a challenge and it will benefit all institutions if this issue is considered early in the development of IA educational programs. Also, economic considerations are making community colleges more attractive during the first two years even to students who are ultimately pursuing four-year degrees.
Please also see the full Working Group proposal that provides more information than this summary, attached below!
How to join this Working Group
This Working group is led by three leaders. To apply for membership - possible until April 2, 2011 -, please send an email to all four leaders - Stephen Cooper, Lance Pérez and, Elizabeth K. Hawthorne, and Susanne Wetzel - no later than April 2, 2011. Early application is encouraged.
Your email message should include the following information:
- Your name, email address, telephone number and postal address
- Any special requirements you have, for example accessibility, mobility, dietary etc, which we need to know about before and/or during the conference
- In a few sentences, state why you are interested in participating in the particular working group
- In a few sentences, describe the specific expertise in the area you bring to the working group. This should include background and prior contributions to the topic of the group
- If possible, include a short bibliography of your prior work in the area
The working group leader will select, in consultation with the working group coordinators, group members based the perceived level of potential contribution they can make to the success of the working group.