CSU, Ivy Tech Receive $2.5 Million Grant to Launch IC2Tech Consortium, Revitalize Intelligence Community Center

Chicago, IL (Nov. 25, 2024) – The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has awarded Chicago State University (CSU) and Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana a $2.5 million grant to establish the Illiana Consortium for Intelligence and Critical Technology Studies (IC2Tech). The consortium will revitalize CSU's Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (IC CAE) program and is one of just six initiatives nationwide selected for funding.

IC2Tech will focus on recruiting and preparing students from diverse backgrounds across the Great Lakes region for careers in national security and intelligence. The consortium's mission is to create a collaborative learning environment that develops the next generation of intelligence professionals, emphasizing expertise in critical and emerging technologies while promoting excellence, ethics, and innovation in addressing national security challenges.

"We are excited to partner with Ivy Tech Community College to launch IC2Tech" said Dr. Moussa Ayyash, Professor and Director of CSU's Center for Information and Security Education and Research (CINSER) and Principal Investigator for the project." This consortium will not only revitalize our IC CAE program but also create a pipeline of highly skilled technology professionals who are ready to address the evolving challenges of national security. By combining the strengths of both institutions, IC2Tech will offer a seamless pathway for students to advance their education and career aspirations."

The project's leadership team includes Co-Principal Investigators Dr. Kimberly Black, CINSER Associate Director, and Joe Perry, Department Chair and Statewide Lead Chair of Ivy Tech's School of Information Technology. CSU serves as the lead institution for the consortium.

This initiative builds upon CSU's existing CINSER program, established in 2014 as part of the IC CAE Program. The IC CAE Program, launched by ODNI in 2005, aims to develop a competitive, knowledgeable, and diverse workforce to support America's long-term national security initiatives.

About Chicago State University

CSU, founded in 1867, is the oldest public university in the Chicago Metropolitan area. The University’s four colleges offer over 70 undergraduate and graduate degree-granting and non-degree programs. CSU is committed to equity in education, serving as the only U.S. Department of Education-designated four-year Predominantly Black Institution in Illinois and ranked by a Harvard economist in the top 4% of public and private universities nationwide in supporting our graduates’ economic mobility. The University serves as a prominent civic space on the greater South Side of Chicago by hosting a multitude of athletic, educational, cultural, and recreational activities. The University is located near public transit that provides convenient access to the campus.

About Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.