Virginia Beach, VA – Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced a plan to create 31,000 new computer science graduates over 20 years. As Virginia’s largest private producer of computer science degree graduates, ECPI University is augmenting this effort with its Accelerate Tech Talent Virginia. 

“The Accelerate Tech Talent Virginia initiative will produce 3,000 more computer science graduates over the next 20 years, as its contribution to the Governor’s goal. This means ECPI University will produce more than 18,000 graduates over the next 20 years”, says ECPI University President Mark Dreyfus. 

One reason why colleges and universities have difficulty attracting students to computer science is because many lack confidence. “When we talk to both career switchers and high school students, we find that many see computer science as a very attractive career path, but they doubt their own abilities,” says ECPI University Dean of Computer and Information Science Dr. Keith Morneau. “They worry about doing the math, not realizing that much of the curriculum revolves around critical thinking and problem solving.  We’ve had countless graduates who first came to us with these same doubts and have gone on to thrive in their careers. 

Honor Marks 8 Continuous Years on Military Times Best for Vets List

Here’s what Military Times survey editors had to say about ECPI University: 

“Nearly one out of every seven staff members at ECPI is a veteran, giving the school one of the highest proportions of vet employees of any school considered for this year’s rankings. That can go a long way toward helping a school understand the needs of its student veteran population. And on top of that, the school conducts surveys of its student vets at least twice per year to gauge their satisfaction with the school and its services. ECPI also has special degree programs for troops and vets, in cybersecurity and electronics engineering that allow them to leverage their military training and experience to earn degrees quickly.” 

Interdisciplinary Drill Designed to Simulate Campus Active Shooter Drill

Based on course of study, students will be assigned to teams in order to establish a perimeter, command and control operations center, negotiate with hostage takers, triage victims, and provide emergency care. 

Both to Help Shape Future of Intercollegiate Competition

Virginia Beach, VA – ECPI University is proud to announce that two people from its eSports team, the Rams, have been named to leadership positions within the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE). 

At the organization’s recent national convention, ECPI University Athletic Director and Director of Web Services Mike Glover was named to NACE’s board of directors and Rams Head Coach JJ Meyers was selected to join the competition committee. Each will play a pivotal role shaping policy as NACE and intercollegiate eSports quickly evolves. 

“We are in the infancy stages of collegiate esports, every decision made by NACE will a have long lasting and profound impact on esports,” says Glover. “I see being a part of the Board of Directors for NACE as not only a duty, but an obligation.  My goals for the elected term are simple…make sure the private institutions that participate in NACE are fairly represented and have equal say in the direction of collegiate esports. And I am going to do my best to make sure collegiate esports are something generations to come will enjoy, and not have it being something that is just a passing fad. “ 

ECPI University Earns Second Place for National Title, Just Behind School More than 100 Times its Size

Columbia, SC – Members of ECPI University’s Columbia campus’ Cybersecurity Team impressed cybersecurity professionals throughout the nation, coming in 2^nd place at the Wicked6 Cyber Games in Las Vegas on August 8. The team of five came from a campus of just 300 students and faced five other schools with enrollments of between 16,000 and 68,000. Ultimately, the ECPI team came within 1.5 points (out of more than 1,700) of overtaking the University of Colorado-Boulder, a school of more than 33,000 students. 

Hosted by the Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu and sponsored in part by Microsoft and the National Security Agency (NSA), competitors at Wicked6 are challenged to exhibit critical cyber defense skills that directly map to abilities that corporate recruiters seek to fill the growing number of IT security jobs. The top three finishers are as follows: 

• University of Colorado Boulder
• ECPI University
• University of Central Florida 

ECPI University Defeated 25 Competing Schools to Advance

Columbia, SC – Members of the Columbia campus’ Cybersecurity Team have earned a spot in the national finals of the Wicked6 Cyber Games in Las Vegas on August 8 at the HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas at the Luxor Hotel and Casino. The team, made up of Cyber and Network Security students Franklin Pearson, Earl Knorr, Wendi Jonkers, Jason Simmons, Kevin Richards, and Coach Chris Flanery, will compete in a contest designed to simulate industry-specific cyber-attack scenarios. 

“We are proud of our cybersecurity team of students and their accomplishment as national finalists,” says ECPI University Columbia Campus President James R. Rund. “With Cybersecurity Ventures projecting 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs by 2021, ECPI University is preparing graduates for the job sector of the future.  Competition and hands-on training is one way we help our students prepare for their future careers.”

Virginia Beach, VA – ECPI University is proud to announce that the HP and its OMEN line of gaming PCs have been named an official partner of the ECPI University Rams Collegiate eSports team, making it the exclusive provider of gaming PCs for all of the ECPI University eSports arenas.  

The ECPI University Rams eSports teams compete across a variety of games throughout the year, including Overwatch, League of Legends, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, Hearthstone, and Rocket League. The “battle arenas” that the players compete in are the located on the campuses and are outfitted with high-end gaming PCs that support all of the games the Rams compete in.

Will Compete Nationwide in World’s Fastest Growing Sport

Richmond, VA – ECPI University is proud to announce it is expanding its eSports team to include all Richmond campus locations. Competing as the ECPI University Rams, the University’s Virginia Beach and Newport News campuses were among the first schools to join the National Association of Collegiate eSports (NACE) and now competes against more than 130 colleges and universities across the nation. 

Signing day for Richmond students is scheduled for Friday, May 31 at 10:00 am at the Richmond/Innsbrook campus, located at 4305 Cox Road in Glen Allen. Twenty-one students will receive scholarships of between $1,600 and $3,200 with the potential to earn an additional $5,000 if they make the playoffs in the national tournament. 

“ECPI University has a longstanding tradition of leading the way locally and nationally for non-traditional learning and success,” says ECPI University Athletic Director Mike Glover. “eSports is growing fast, and this is something our students are telling us that they want as a part of their college experience.” 

For those unfamiliar with the eSports phenomena, it is developing at an exponential rate. No longer confined to local banquet halls, these events are now full-blown spectator sports, selling out venues like Madison Square Garden and Staples Center. And experts say this is just the beginning. 

Not long ago, The Wall Street Journal reported that eSports revenue will reach $1.5 billion by 2020. Moreover, the Philadelphia 76ers recently purchased the UK-based professional team, DIGNITAS. There’s even efforts underway to make eSports part of the Olympics.

Lake Mary, FL – It would be difficult to overstate the looming cybersecurity crisis. As attacks continue to escalate, there are simply not enough skilled professionals available to fight back. According to a recent report conducted by (ISC)²: 

• The shortage of cybersecurity professionals is now close to 3 million globally
• 63% of respondents report their employer has a shortage of dedicated cybersecurity staff
• 59% say their organization is at extreme or moderate risk due to cybersecurity staff shortages 

Many of the applicants for cybersecurity positions lack foundational information, technical knowledge, and people skills. In essence, there are two different issues. One, applicants who are self-taught and tech savvy does not have the skills to address the major issues businesses face. Two, higher education curriculums typically follow a traditional approach, where education is based on a teaching-oriented environment full of theories, which may lack real-world applicability. 

“Many companies lack the time and resources to provide training in the actual skills required to defend against attacks,” says ECPI University Lake Mary Campus President Mr. Michael Fontaine. “Employers are looking for applicants who are job-ready.” 

SC’s Largest Professional Job Fair Draws More Than 100 Employers