Joining the ‘iSchool’ Movement

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 18, 2018) – We are becoming an increasingly connected society. From smart homes and wearables, to virtual reality headsets, thermostats, pet trackers, heart rate monitors, air quality sensors and self-driving cars, it’s hard to find a single area of our lives that is not impacted by the “Internet of Things.”

Though designed to make our lives easier and more efficient, these devices also present an enormous security risk. According to a recent study, 25 percent of the more than 11.4 billion smart objects will undergo a cyberattack within the next two years.

UAlbany's $180 million Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurship Complex (ETEC) is the future home of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity.

Combining Disciplines:

At UAlbany’s first-in-the-nation College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (CEHC), better understanding how to manage and protect our digital information has become a core priority.

This month, the college announced its designation as an “iSchool” organization, joining industry thought-leaders worldwide in shaping the teaching and practice of information studies and related aspects of the field, now and into the future.

“The evolution of emergency management and homeland security is dependent on understanding the interrelationships of people, technology and knowledge,” said CEHC Dean Robert Griffin.

“When you consider the possibilities of operationalizing the data from billions of sensors represented by the Internet of Things, the placement of informatics and information sciences into a school dedicated to better understanding, and keeping safe, our communities is a logical move,” he added.

More than 90 colleges and universities around the globe have joined the “iSchool” movement after a small group of information schools dedicated to advancing their field developing the concept in 2005.

The “iSchool” organization is governed by the "iCaucus," which seeks to maximize the visibility and influence of its members. Every year, the organization presents an “iConference” which brings together leading information scholars and professionals.

View this directory for a complete list of colleges and universities that are part of the movement.

CEHC’s Program Offerings:

CEHC has rapidly grown to nearly 1,000 students since its launch by Gov. Cuomo in 2015.

The college’s offerings include a major, minor and certificate of graduate study in emergency preparedness, homeland security and cybersecurity. Students interested in information science can pursue an undergraduate major or minor in informatics, which includes an online option, an M.S. degree in Information Science, a fully online M.S. in Information Science School Library (ISSL), as well as a Ph.D. degree.

New graduate programs in intelligence analysis and data analytics are expected by next spring.

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