Dakota State University to Host U.S. Senate Cybersecurity Field Hearing

thuneheadernew John_Thune,_official_portrait,_111th_CongressDakota State University to Host U.S. Senate Cybersecurity Field Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, will convene and chair a full committee field hearing entitled “Confronting the Challenge of Cybersecurity” on Thursday, September 3, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. CT (3:30 p.m. ET) at Dakota State University.

“As our nation continues to confront and guard against dangers in cyberspace, experts in South Dakota have experience and insight to inform federal policymaking,” said Thune. “Bringing a Senate hearing to Dakota State offers federal government cybersecurity policymakers an opportunity to listen to these cyber experts and better understand the challenge of protecting individuals, businesses, and critical infrastructure throughout our nation.”

Dakota State University’s Cyber Operations Program is nationally recognized by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence, holding education, research and cyber operations designations. It is one of the first universities in the country to hold all three prestigious designations. Approximately 20 percent of students at DSU are involved in its cybersecurity programs.

Witnesses:

  • Dr. Josh Pauli, Professor of Cyber Security and NSF SFS CyberCorps Program Director, Dakota State University (DSU)
  • Dr. Kevin Streff, Department Chair, Cyber Operations and Security, Dakota State University; Founder and Managing Partner, Secure Banking Solutions, LLC
  • Mr. Mark Shlanta, CEO, SDN Communications
  • Mr. Eric Pulse, Director of Risk Advisory Services, Eide Bailly
  • Mr. Jeremy Epstein, Lead Program Director, Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) program, National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • Mr. Kevin Stine, Manager, Security Outreach and Integration Group, Information Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Hearing Details:

Thursday, September 3, 2015

2:30 p.m. CDT/3:30 p.m. EDT

Full Committee field hearing at Dakota State University
Madison, South Dakota
Tunheim Classroom Building, Room 203

The hearing will be webcast through www.commerce.senate.gov. Witness testimony, opening statements, and a live video of the hearing will be available here.

7 thoughts on “Dakota State University to Host U.S. Senate Cybersecurity Field Hearing”

  1. Cyber security?

    How about wallet security?

    At SD BOR: 4 yr graduation rate: 24% 6 yr: 51%

    At DSU: 4 yr: 20% 6 yr: 49%

    Average cost to SD taxpayer per degree completed: $64,000

    –Chronicle of Higher Ed

    Why are working class S. Dakotans subsidizing the educations of those who will use their degrees to make more money than those working class S. Dakotans?

    Is there a cybersecurity algorithm that deciphers that dilemma?

    1. The “drop out” rate doesn’t reflect the students who completed the general degree courses in the state schools and then moved on to other institutions. Your comment got me to thinking that both my sons, who have earned Masters degrees, would show up as drop outs at USD and DSU respectively.

      1. 1. Regardless of students complete their degrees, taxpayers are heavily subsidizing ALL students in SD BOR institutions.

        2. A student who started at DSU and graduated from USD IS counted as a degree from a SD public university.

        3. I do not know of ANY instance where ANY SD university advertised or touted its programs for students who wanted to complete “general studies”. 4-year schools in SD work to get and keep students for 4 year programs. Granted, some students transfer out (and in), but there is NO FOCUS on enrolling students just to compete generals.

  2. Per Curiam,

    The Sioux Falls High School counselors encourage students who aren’t sure of what they want to do/study to attend the local University Center “and get their generals.” To the degree it is overtly or covertly coordinated with the SFUC, I don’t know but It is done. I also know that many attend SFUC for two years and transfer to Augie (and probably USF) so they can have a private school degree.

    P.S. I suspect this diversion for two years to SFUC is part of the reason Augie enrollment is done and the name change is partially motivated to attract such students from SFUC for their final two years.

    1. My point stands.

      The UC in SF is not a university. It does not award degrees.

      I think it’s fine if students wish to attend ANY SD university for “generals”.But that’s not how any SD university markets itself or recruits or develops programs of study.

      And the transfers are usually the other way around: students attend a private university or out of state ,and return to a SD university because of money, lack of discipline, etc. Thus, the stats on SD BOR degrees are generally accurate, since those who attend for generals (and leave w/o a degree) are offset by those who transfer in.

  3. Per Curiam,

    My above comment was in response to this statement said with a great deal of confidence (use of CAPS): “I do not know of ANY instance where ANY SD university advertised or touted its programs for students who wanted to complete “general studies”. ”

    Fact: Many students at the University Center of Sioux Falls enroll to get their generals taken care of while living at home and to proceed to a degree most students have to transfer to one of the traditional SD university campuses. A cursory review of the courses offered and its concentration of “generals” indicates that the classes at the University Center of Sioux Falls is geared to providing generals and that is how it is marketed to graduating students overtly by H.S. counselors and covertly by the University Center.

    I have no idea what the point of this is: “The UC in SF is not a university. It does not award degrees.”

    Fact: 100% of the students at the University Center in Sioux Falls is enrolled at one of the state universities. If they finish their degree, they are a graduate of that school (and may have never attended a class on the actual campus of the university). If they don’t finish, they are considered a “drop-out” from that university and we have no idea how many of those “drop-outs” actually got their degree from another school.

Comments are closed.