Center for Cyber Education

In 2018, the University of Maine System (UMS) and its member institutions of higher education established the Maine Cybersecurity Center (MCC) as the designated Center for Cyber Education. The MCC is a virtual organization responsible for providing support and resources to any institution within the UMS that adopts the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity core academic program. The MCC Director is Dr. Henry Felch, UMA Associate Professor of Cybersecurity and Computer Information Systems.

The goal is to provide the State of Maine with a trained cybersecurity workforce.

National Centers of Academic Excellence

The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) jointly sponsor the National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) Program. The goal of the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) program is to reduce vulnerability in our national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense and producing professionals with cyber defense expertise. This program contributes significantly to the advancement of state-of-the-art cyber defense knowledge and practice.

As of April 2019, the University of Maine at Augusta Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program was designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education for academic years 2019-2024. This designation was awarded because the curriculum has been designed to meet the stringent academic standards of the CAE-CD program. This NSA/DHS recognition program serves as the de facto accreditation standard for Cybersecurity.

Administration

The Program Coordinator is responsible for managing the program by maintaining a course transferability matrix, course mapping for the CAE‐CDE certification, and providing support for the academic program and all associated cybersecurity lab environments.

Dr. Henry Felch, DCS
Cyber Program Coordinator/Chair
UMA Associate Professor of Cybersecurity and Computer Information Systems

Dr. Betina Tagle, DCS
Designated Alternate
UMA Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity and Computer Information Systems

Board of Advisors

The Board of Advisors consists of representatives from the university, as well as private businesses, federal, state, and local government, and academic institutions. The committee will elect a chairperson and the board will determine a meeting schedule that will include at least quarterly meetings. The Board of Advisors will provide input and guidance to the cybersecurity program.

Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

Support/Participation to the CAE Community

Dr. Henry Felch participated in the following events:

  • NICE K-12 Cybersecurity Education Conference, December 3-4, 2018 in San Antonio, TX
  • CAE in Cybersecurity Symposium, November 8-9, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency, Miami FL
  • NICE Conference & Expo, November 6-7, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency, Miami FL
  • CAE-CD Principals’ Meeting, June 5, 2018 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, AL
  • CAE Mentor & Peer Reviewer Training, June 4, 2018 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville AL

Outreach & Collaboration Beyond the Institution

Cyber Defense (CD) practices are extended beyond the normal boundaries of the institution, and CD concepts developed at the institution are shared with others.

Extending Cyber Education to Maine High Schools
In 2018, An Early College Partnership was established between the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) Cybersecurity department and Cony High School in Augusta, Maine. The partnership is a school-district approved education opportunity, which requires parental approval for student participation. Dr. Henry Felch and Dr. Betina Tagle provided the computer information systems (CIS) and cybersecurity curriculum to juniors and seniors throughout the school year during first period. Each course is nine weeks long and the certificate requirements are divided into Level 1 and Level 2, as listed below. Students receive a CIS-Cyber Fundamentals Certificate after completing each level. Students also receive college credit that can be applied to a cybersecurity degree at UMA, or an affiliated institution.

News & Highlights

28 May 2019
Senator Angus King discusses Cyberspace Solarium Commission with Rep. Mike Gallagher and UMA Professor Henry Felch

18 Apr 2019
Cyberattack hits Augusta municipal operations; City Center closed. UMA Professor Henry Felch interviewed.

08 Jan 2019
Cybersecurity: What Can Be Done to Deal with the Prevalence of Security Breaches?

14 Dec 2018
UMA Cyber Moose Ranked 17th Nationally in Cyber League Competition

11 May 2018
UMA Cyber Moose Ranked 14th Nationally in Cyber League Competition

26 Apr 2018
Decoding Your Data: What Facebook Has In User Archives

11 Apr 2018
UMA Partners with Valencia College to Offer Online Cybersecurity Degree to Students in Florida

22 Feb 2018
Henry Felch Appointed to US Coast Guard Maritime Security Executive Committee

20 Feb 2018
Thomas College launches Maine’s first master’s program in cybersecurity. “By fall of 2019, UMA aims to launch its own master’s program in cybersecurity. UMA President Rebecca Wyke said in an interview last July that she was looking into expanding the commuter school’s cybersecurity studies program.”

08 Feb 2018
UMA Ranked in Top 100 for Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs by U.S. News and World Reports

11 Dec 2017
UMA Cyber Moose Nationally Ranked Students place in Top 10 during Cybersecurity League Championship

15 Nov 2017
UMA Students Nationally Ranked in Cybersecurity League Competition

30 Jun 2017
UMA partially answers call for cybersecurity

30 Jun 2017
UMA cybersecurity program growing to keep up with industry

12 Jan 2017
UMA’s Online Degrees Remain Among the Nation’s Best

02 Dec 2016
Cybersecurity at UMA

18 May 2015
UMA to offer new cybersecurity degree