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Angelo State CSS Profs Win NSF Grant

August 28, 2012

Dr. Robert Ehlers and Dr. James Phelps, faculty in Angelo State University’s Center for Security Studies (CSS), have been awarded a $118,594 grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for their project to improve cyber-security education at regional community colleges.

The project is titled “SFS: Capacity Building: Collaborative Project: Cyber-Security Education for Community College Faculty in Texas,” and is a collaborative effort with Texas Tech University, which received a separate NSF grant.  The purpose of the project is to increase the capacity of community colleges to teach courses in cyber-security by providing professional development to community college faculty across West Texas in cyber-security and related fields. 

CSS faculty members Phelps and Dr. Fred Wilson will join Texas Tech faculty at regional community colleges during summer breaks to teach their instructors about basic aspects of cyberspace, including cyber-security, cyber-attack, cyber-crime, network-centric operations and several related topics. 

“This program is important first and foremost because it brings ASU and the CSS more fully into the cyber-education arena while building the CSS faculty’s teaching expertise in this arena,” said Ehlers, CSS director.  “Our professors will also be able to spread the word about the CSS academic programs to the community college instructors, who may in turn recommend our school to their students for our bachelor’s and master’s degrees.” 

The CSS offers bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and certificate programs in border security, criminal justice, cultural competence/fluency and security studies, and intelligence, security studies and analysis.  All of the programs are available totally online, while several are offered on campus or in an online/on-campus hybrid format.  More information on the CSS is available at www.angelo.edu/dept/security_studies_criminal_justice/css/. 

For more information on the NSF grant, contact Ehlers at 325-486-6682 or Phelps at 325-942-2167.