About

What Is the Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence?

Originally launched in September 2017, the Kansas Consortium-Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (K-IC CAE) was established to provide educational resources, support, and workplace and cultural experiences for students who wish to serve as qualified intelligence professionals to carry out the nation’s long-term national security initiatives.  Interested students are eligible for admission to the Intelligence & National Security undergraduate certificate program, scholarships, research opportunities, internships, study abroad funding, and career mentorship and support. 

In 2022, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) awarded $2.4 million grant to add undergraduate degrees in biotechnology, information technology and cybersecurity to its existing intelligence and national security program.  Additionally, the consortium was expanded and now includes KU, Seward County Community College, Dodge City Community College, Garden City Community College, and Kansas City Community College.

ICCAE Program Benefits  

The ICCAE program increases the pool of diverse job applicants who also possess the highly desired skills and competencies in areas of critical need within the US Intelligence Community.  Besides ICCAE students being more competitive for internships and employment in the 16 federal U.S. Intelligence agencies, newly acquired critical thinking, analytic, and communication skills can be applied to any area of study or profession.

What Is the U.S. Intelligence Community?

The U.S. Intelligence Community is a broad term that refers to the 18 U.S. federal intelligence agencies. Agencies range from the well-known Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA) to less-known federal agencies and military units, such as the Departments of Energy, Treasury, and State.