West Virginia has established itself as a forerunner in the biometrics field, and the University is at the forefront. Beginning in fall 2003, WVU will take another step ahead as it incorporates an information assurance/biometrics specialization into three masters degree programs.

While work is still being done to finalize the masters curriculum, the program has already been named a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance by the National Security Agency. This highly regarded distinction has only been granted to 33 higher education institutions.

However, WVU s program is truly unique. Although other colleges and universities offer courses related to information assurance, WVU is currently the only university that incorporates biometrics into the curriculum, making it literally a one-of-a-kind program.

Biometrics has been used at WVU since 1997, when Michael Yura, director of WVU s Forensic Identification Program, helped to create the worlds first bachelors degree program in biometrics and forensic science.

In recent months, WVU s biometric and forensic capabilities has increased exponentially with the addition of the automated fingerprint-identification system donated by SAGEM Morpho and the installation of hand geometry readers that were donated by Diebold.

“With the proliferation of biometrics, the concern is, do we have enough trained personnel to actually implement the technology? There are some, but not enough,”Yura said.

A whole new industry has emerged, said George Trapp, chairman of WVU s Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.

“A trained workforce does not really exist,”he continued.”While engineers, IT professionals and military personnel have hands-on experience, there were no academic programs dedicated to producing biometric or information assurance experts.”

With the greater focus on national security and personal identification, a demand for these experts has developed.

Related to the emphasis on security, is the concept of information assurance.

“How do we assure that the person accessing information is authorized to do so; that they are who they say they are? And how do we assure that the information is authentic?”Yura asked. According to the NSA , part of information assurance is the protection of information systems, and the information they contain, from attack or compromise.

Therefore, the source of information needs to be verified and the information received must be the information that was sent, with no tampering or modifications being done to the information in transit.

“The technology available needs to be improved, new systems created, and applications tested to reach the highest level of information assurance,”Yura said.

“The need for testing and research cannot be overstated,”Trapp said.”With the development of an industry and technology, a need is created for research that tests not only technical reliability but that also focuses on subjective and societal consequences.”

Given the Universitys experience with biometrics, initial courses are already in place for the IA/B specialization available to graduate students in computer science, software engineering and electrical engineering, Trapp said.

While certain courses are only accessible to students enrolled in one of the three masters programs, two other options exist for those interested in IA/B concepts: a five-day course and a certification program.

An introduction course in IA/B,”Concepts in Biometric Systems&Information Assurance,”is offered in two formats and is open to anyone curious about IA/B. The five-day condensed course is designed to inform a general audience about the broad topic of information assurance/biometrics.

“This introduction course is presented off campus as well as on campus as a regular University class,”Trapp said.”Taking the introduction class is also the first step toward reaching certification in information assurance/biometrics.”

To obtain a certificate in IA/B from WVU , which has been approved by the Army Office of Biometric Management, participants must complete a five-course curriculum, with the introduction course counting as one of the required courses.

Graduate students who specialize in IA/B will have to take all the courses in the certification program in addition to other required courses to satisfy degree requirements. To specialize in IA/B, students must be accepted into and enrolled in the regular WVU masters program in one of the three specified areas. (For more information on graduate courses in the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, go towww.lcsee.cemr.wvu.edu/academics.php.)

Funding for curriculum development, provided by the Biometrics Management Office, which is part of Department of the Army, has occurred in two stages. The first part, developing the five-day introduction course and certificate program, is complete. The second stage, funding the development of the masters tracks, is an ongoing project.

Scholarships are available to support graduate students enrolled in the masters programs with the IA/B specialization, including a full scholarship offered by the U.S. Department of Defense for undergraduates, graduate students, civilians and military personnel who pursue Information Assurance-related fields of study.

Recipients of this scholarship are eligible for full-time employment with the Department of Defense after graduation. In fact, students are required to work in the Defense Department a minimum of one year for each year of scholarship support they receive. (For more information on the scholarship, go towww.c3i.osd.mil/iasp.)

Trapp expects that the new IA/B courses will attract a mix of graduate students already at WVU as well as employees who will be coming to work at the Defense Department’s BiometricsFusionCenter, to be located at the FBI Complex in Clarksburg.

Sen. Robert C. Byrd and Rep. Alan Mollohan recently announced the construction of the permanent BiometricsFusionCenter, which is expected to bring 150-175 new jobs to the area.

“Not too long ago, biometrics was strictly the stuff of science fiction movies,”said Byrd.”But what some people can dream, others can invent. Biometrics is quickly moving from fiction to fact.”

West VirginiaUniversity is proving to be an engine for invention, with the University harnessing research and academic expertise through its nationally unique biometrics and forensic identification degree program, Byrd said.

“At the same time, WVU is partnering with industry leaders, area businesses and nonprofit organizations to develop the biometrics industry in West Virginia,”he added.”Once again, WVU is not only preparing its students for careers in cutting-edge fields, but also finding ways to expand the MountainStates future.”