University at Albany to Host the Nation's First College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity

ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In recognition of his commitment to protecting New York State residents, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced plans for a College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity to be located at the University at Albany. The governor committed $15 million to establish the first-in-the-nation security college, which would be located on a newly acquired Harriman Campus location adjacent to the University at Albany.

The College will be designed to maintain New York's position as a front-runner in state and national security. The University at Albany was chosen for its emergency management and preparedness training initiatives, extensive educational and research programs, diverse homeland security and emergency management experts, and its statewide strategic alliances. A nationally recognized leader in homeland security training and cybersecurity research and education, UAlbany is an established partner in public health preparedness with the State's Department of Health and UAlbany's School of Public Health.

Additionally, the University's central location in Albany, and its collaborations with state agencies responsible for security and preparedness offer continued opportunities for training and education. It will also allow the University to build on its long-standing relationship with the State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC) in Oriskany, New York. In addition to new classroom and learning space, the new College will partner with the state's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to provide training at the Oriskany location.

"We laud Governor Cuomo for his vision to set an example for the rest of the nation with this endeavor and are pleased to leverage our expertise to help New York get ready for the challenges that face our state and our country," said Robert J. Jones, president, University at Albany. "No other New York State university has the range of expertise, programs, facilities, and personnel dedicated to training, research and education in emergency preparedness, homeland security and cyber security."

Economic Impact

Beyond support to state missions, the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity will help to fill a growing need for homeland security professionals. Rapidly expanding opportunities exist in the private sector in critical infrastructure protection, enterprise continuity of operations, and especially cybersecurity.

The new entity will support the state's private and public sectors, both of which are undersupplied in the area of cybersecurity. According to a recently released National Governors Association report, cybersecurity employment is expected to rise by 650,000 employees within the next decade – growth that is projected to be faster than for all other occupations. As corporations are increasingly developing plans to cope with terrorism, cybercrime, pandemics, and other threats to their operations, they will require a workforce trained in the very disciplines this college is designed to study and teach.

Locating the new college near the major homeland security and emergency management assets for the state will serve to prepare the next generation of leaders. Students will have the opportunity to "learn by doing" while contributing their effort and talents to the protection of New York and its citizens during internships and other forms of experiential learning.

Though UAlbany would serve as the facility's administrative home, the new college will leverage recent advances in educational technology in order to maximize access, minimize duplication and integrate existing programs across the state.

Educationally and culturally, the University at Albany-SUNY puts "The World Within Reach" for its more than 17,300 students. An internationally recognized research university with 118 undergraduate majors and minors and 138 graduate programs, UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as criminal justice, information science, public administration, social welfare, business and sociology. With a curriculum enhanced by 500 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers. Visit UAlbany's extensive roster of faculty experts.

Contact: Karl Luntta, [email protected], 1-518-956-8161

SOURCE University at Albany