Background

The Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education


	Founded in 1996 as the National Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education, the Colloquium has become the leading proponent for implementing courses of instruction in INFOSEC in education. In June 2002, the NCISSE expanded its mission to include a greater international participation. To reflect this the organization formally changed its name to The Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education or more simply -- The Colloquium

Inside Background

About the Colloquium

Founded in 1996 as the National Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education, the Colloquium has become the leading proponent for implementing courses of instruction in INFOSEC in education.

In June 2002, the NCISSE expanded its mission to include a greater international participation. To reflect this the organization formally changed its name to The Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education (http://cisse.info) -- The Colloquium

The responsibility of hosting the colloquy rotates yearly among academia, industry and government.

The Colloquium provides a forum for academia, government and industry INFOSEC experts to discuss and form needed direction in

	INFOSEC undergraduate and graduate curricula,
	common requirements,
	specific knowledge, skills and abilities,
	certification requirements, and
	establishment of professional certification boards.

Who Should Participate?

University Presidents and Deans, Managers, Directors, Corporate Officers, Senior Engineers, Administrators, Auditors, Academic Leaders, Educators and Researchers, and Other Information Security Professionals in Government, Industry and Academia

We address academic issues associated with the following:

	Faculty Development
	Computer Science
	Information Systems Technology
	Ethics
	Computer Security
	Course Delivery
	Control Systems
	Academic Leadership
	Information/Data Security
	Network Security
	Network Administration
	Curriculum Design
	Information Systems
	Contingency Planning
	Life Long Learning
	Business Resumption
	Distance Learning
	Audit
	Academic Standards
	Operations

Overview of the Colloquium:

The security and assurance of our information and communications infrastructure is an international priority. To address this, we need an information-literate work force that is aware of its vulnerability, as well as a cadre of information professionals who are knowledgeable of the recognized "best practices" available in information security and information assurance, as called for in Presidential Decision Directive 63, May 22, 1998.

In the United States, it is the task of higher education to provide that information-literate work force and to prepare information professionals. Other allied countries have a similar stated mission. To meet this priority, higher education must be informed of the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be taught in the general curricula and in the information curricula of its colleges and universities. Industry and government must understand their role in supporting higher education, not simply expecting higher education to be responsive and informed about information security and assurance. The Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education (The Colloquium) is established to serve as a living body to bring government, industry, and academia together to meet those challenges.

Objectives:

	The Colloquium is a forum for dialogue among leading figures in government, industry and academia to work in partnership to define current and emerging requirements for information security education, and to influence and encourage the development and expansion of information security curricula especially at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
	The Colloquium creates an environment for exchange and dialogue among leaders in government, industry and academia concerning the need for and utility of information security and information assurance education.
	The Colloquium strives to foster the development of academic curricula which recognizes the need expressed by government and industry, and is based on the recognized "best practices" available in the field.
	The Colloquium will assist educational institutions by fostering the continued development and sharing of information security education resources.
	The Colloquium will encourage educational institutions to teach appropriate information systems security courses in various curricula to meet the needs of 21st Century consumers and to offer courses to meet the growing demand for information system security professionals.

History:
The first National Information Systems Security Education Colloquium was held April 23-24, 1997, in Linthicum, Md., and was chaired by the federal government. The profile of participants included some 45 percent from business and industry, 30 percent from academia, and 25 percent from government. The outcome of the first Colloquium Conference was the development of working partnerships; a commitment to promote more effective communications and to share information security resources; an agreement to continue the living body of The Colloquium and the annual conference; and to further enhance its role as a forum for dialogue and collaboration among the three distinct constituencies represented.