In partnership with the National Security Agency (NSA), the Candidates Program helps regionally accredited U.S. colleges and universities prepare high-quality applications for the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity designation. The CAE Candidates Program is in need of mentors and pre-submission reviewers to assist new applicants in earning the CAE designation. To qualify, individuals must have significantly contributed to a CAE application resulting in the award of the designation for their institution. This work requires a strong understanding of both the Program of Study validation and the CAE application process. Additional requirements and expectations are listed on the application web page.

• Application to Become a Mentor or Pre-submission Reviewer

Use Form W-9 to provide your correct Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to Whatcom Community College, which is required to file an information return with the IRS to report any income paid to you.

• Form W-9

Download this Excel template to invoice Whatcom Community College for payments due upon completion of milestones.

• Mentor Invoice Form

CAE-CD Mentor Workshop Video

A video of the May 2021 CAE-CD Mentor Workshop is available for approved CAE-CD mentors upon request. Please email ncyte@whatcom.edu.

CAE-CD Program Development Milestone Reports

Download these Word documents to prepare milestone reports during the CAE-CD Program Development process.

• CAE-CD Program Development Milestone Report 1
• CAE-CD Program Development Milestone Report 2
• CAE-CD Program Development Milestone Report 3

CAE-CD Milestone Reports

A link to the Program of Study (PoS) Milestone Report form on the SurveyMonkey online platform is available for approved CAE-CD mentors upon request. Please email ncyte@whatcom.edu to request the link. Mentors will also be provided a link to the CAE Milestone Report form when it becomes available.

Program of Study (PoS) Pre-submission Review Template

Click the button below to download the 22-page MS Word document “Report Template for a National Center of Academic Excellence In Cyber Defense (NCAE-CD) Program of Study (PoS) Validation Application Pre-Submission Review (PSR).”

• Program of Study (PoS) Pre-submission Review Template

CAE Pre-submission Review Template

Click the button below to download the 19-page MS Word document “Report Template for a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (NCAE-CD) Designation Application Pre-Submission Review (PSR).”

• CAE Pre-submission Review Template