Grambling State University is one step closer to having the ability to offer Louisiana’s very first Bachelor of Science degree in Cybersecurity. Support was shown by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors as they granted their approval for the program.
The institution has one more step to take as they wait for the official approval from the Louisiana Board of Regents. Until then, students will be eligible to begin enrolling in the program in fall 2019.
“With the vision of your team and the support of this Board, we are confident Grambling is prepared to educate cybersecurity professionals the market is demanding,” Board Chair Al Perkins said. “These graduates will be equipped with highly sought-after skills to protect us as technology becomes more prevalent in our daily lives.”
The Bachelor of Science degree is expected to bring in more future and prospective students as the growth rate of cybersecurity jobs continue to increase. Cybersecurity refers to the preventive methods or techniques used to protect an organization’s information and systems from cyber warfare, cyber terrorism, and cyber espionage.
It is a critical part of the security strategies adopted by governments as cyberattacks are mostly aimed at political, military, and infrastructural assets.
According to a new research report, the cybersecurity market is expected to grow from USD $152.71 billion in 2018 to USD $248.26 billion by 2023, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.2 percent during 2018-2023.
Yenumula B. Reddy, Ph.D., a member of the Louisiana Cybersecurity Commission and a fellow Grambling State faculty member, has led the development of the university’s new program.
“We are excited about the work of Dr. Reddy and his team,” Grambling State President Rick Gallot said. “Their continuous innovation in research and the classroom are paving the way for this program. We are excited about the impact their leadership and our system-level support will have on our state and economy.”
An October report was issued by the University of Louisiana System and it showed that GSU has doubled its fiscal health score since FY 2016, increasing from a 1.30 to a 2.60.
The fiscal health score was developed by the Louisiana Board of Regents and it measures the overall organizational health, factoring in important components including debt, revenue, and ability to operate.
“Grambling State University is experiencing a renaissance. Its vastly improved fiscal health is yet another indication of the effective leadership and hard work occurring at all levels of the institution,” University of Louisiana System President Jim Henderson said. “From its enrollment numbers to its operations, it’s exciting to see the rapid and significant advancement of this historic institution.”
Guiding the university’s fiscal health initiatives team is Martin Lemelle, Jr. the University’s Chief Operating Officer and Interim Vice-President of Finance. The initiative also includes team members who offer experience from higher education, Silicon Valley, and public accountancy.
“We’re an example of what’s possible when we partner,” said Lemelle. “The key to our successes has been a university-wide combination of collaboration and commitment. We’ve seen innovative ideas from every area, from our controller’s office to our academic units.”
“It’s been a team-wide effort,” Gallot said. “As a part of our commitment to innovation, we’ve engaged new talent and alumni from across the U.S. who not only understand our charge but offer us expert perspectives and thought leadership.”