Green River College Earns Centers of Academic Excellence Redesignation

The National Security Agency (NSA) awards the designation to universities and colleges that demonstrate their commitment to program excellence, collaboration with educational partners, continuous program improvement, and participation in the cybersecurity community. Green River College is one of ten colleges and universities in Washington state with the designation. 

“I celebrate the designation because the recognition not only elevates the standing of our cybersecurity program but also positions our students for success in the vibrant tech ecosystem of Seattle. The NSA recognition enhances the program's reputation, making it a top choice for local talent and appealing to tech companies seeking well-trained cybersecurity professionals. Our students benefit from greater visibility and connections within the Seattle tech community, potentially leading to valuable networking, internship, and employment opportunities," says Roseanne Berg, Dean of Instruction for Technology and Nursing at GRC. 

Green River College first earned the CAE designation in 2018. The NSA requires all institutions to re-apply for designation every five years to ensure that they are continuing to meet high program standards. The redesignation process is rigorous and takes between two and three months to complete. There are currently 435 Institutions holding the designation that participate in Nationwide conferences, workshops, competitions, and career fairs as well as compete for national grants. 

“This external designation both affirms we are doing a wonderful job with our current curriculum, but also allows us to share that with prospective students who are looking for a future career. Additionally, being part of the CAE program has presented a lot of opportunities for the educators and students. The CAE program includes a large number of resources such as the PICSES program, NCyTE, CLARK, and partnerships with other schools that Green River has utilized extensively. Teacher education, class content, contacts at other schools, and even entire class curriculum/content are all available and used regularly to ensure that our teachers are up to date on the latest technology and resources,” Says Edrick Goad IT & Cybersecurity Instructor at GRC. 

Green River College offers two bachelor’s degrees, two associate degrees, and seven certificates in cybersecurity, networks, and software development. They have an expansive advisory board with representatives from local, state, and national organizations. Learn more at Green River’s  Cybersecurity Center.