Additionally, the University's central location in Albany, and its collaborations with state agencies responsible for security and preparedness offer continued opportunities for training and education. It will also allow the University to build on its long-standing relationship with the State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC) in Oriskany, New York. In addition to new classroom and learning space, the new College will partner with the state's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to provide training at the Oriskany location.

"We laud Governor Cuomo for his vision to set an example for the rest of the nation with this endeavor and are pleased to leverage our expertise to help New York get ready for the challenges that face our state and our country," said Robert J. Jones, president, University at Albany. "No other New York State university has the range of expertise, programs, facilities, and personnel dedicated to training, research and education in emergency preparedness, homeland security and cyber security."

Beyond support to state missions, the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity will help to fill a growing need for homeland security professionals. Rapidly expanding opportunities exist in the private sector in critical infrastructure protection, enterprise continuity of operations, and especially cybersecurity.

The new entity will support the state's private and public sectors, both of which are undersupplied in the area of cybersecurity. According to a recently released National Governors Association report, cybersecurity employment is expected to rise by 650,000 employees within the next decade – growth that is projected to be faster than for all other occupations. As corporations are increasingly developing plans to cope with terrorism, cybercrime, pandemics, and other threats to their operations, they will require a workforce trained in the very disciplines this college is designed to study and teach.