Rider University is one of three universities that will share $1 million in funding, which the United States Congress approved in the Fiscal Year 2006 Science, Commerce, Justice and State Appropriations Bill for the establishment of a Cyber Crime and Forensics Institute.

Rider joins East Stroudsburg University of East Stroudsburg, PA, where the institute will be located, and Drexel University of Philadelphia, PA, in the multi-university, cross-disciplinary program that will address issues related to computer fraud and forensics that are vital to law enforcement at all levels of government. Rider will partner with the two Pennsylvania universities through its Center for Business Forensics.

The Cyber Crime and Forensics Institute will fulfill three objectives: (1) education and development of future computer forensics practitioners for U.S. law enforcement; (2) assistance to law-enforcement agencies in personnel training and expert resources for consultation and analysis; and (3) cross disciplinary state-of-the-art research in computer forensics.

“Rider University’s Center for Business Forensics is proud to join East Stroudsburg University and Drexel University to create the new Cyber Crime and Forensics Institute,” said Dr. Mordechai Rozanski, president of Rider University. “Building on our faculty expertise in data mining, computer security, e-commerce, forensic accounting, fraud investigation and business valuation, we will collaborate to expand knowledge, develop standards and educate the next generation of computer forensics professionals to combat computer fraud and abuse. We offer sincere thanks to Senator Jon Corzine, Senator Frank Lautenberg and Congressman Rush Holt of New Jersey for their active support of this project.”

Interest in computer forensics has soared in the early 2000s due to the abuse of computers and related communication technologies, including the Internet. The criminal use of computers exists where offenders release debilitating viruses, stalk and harass, distribute child pornography and commit fraud involving commerce transactions.

The participating institutions will develop a joint undergraduate and graduate degree program that will provide students with training towards a bachelor of science and master of science in computer forensics/computer security. The Institute will draw on the strengths of the participating institutions: an existing bachelor of science in computer security, existing curricula and courses in fraud and forensic accounting, cyber forensics, and criminal justice.

Dr. William Amadio, director of Rider’s Center for Business Forensics, said, “The Cyber Crime and Forensics Institute will prepare our students to implement the policies, organizational structures, practices and systems necessary to address the threats of fraud and cyber crime in the 21st century.

“The funding will support the development of concentrated programs in accounting and computer information systems, along with enrichment of other business management curricula,”

Dr. Amadio added,“In addition, we will strive to bring practitioners into the classroom and take students and faculty into the workplace in order to provide a truly cooperative program of education and research.”

Dr. Robert Dillman, president of ESU, also expressed gratitude for efforts of Senator Arlen Specter, Senator Rick Santorum and Congressman Paul Kanjorski in securing this funding for the creation of a Cyber Crime and Forensics Institute in East Stroudsburg. “Our vision for making Monroe County home to a national ‘center of excellence’ in the field of computer security has been realized through their efforts. As the first university in the United States to provide undergraduate degree programs in computer security, we look forward to providing the training and tools necessary for federal, state and local enforcement communities to fight crimes committed through the use of computers,” said Dr. Dillman.

“Drexel University is pleased to bring its expertise to the collaboration,” Drexel President Constantine Papadakis said. “The Institute has the potential to become an important resource for law enforcement agencies and security professionals.”

The Institute will also provide law enforcement support and public outreach including certificate programs for law enforcement personnel and security professionals, as well as development tracks for law personnel with prior academic preparation.

In the area of standardization and research, the Institute will conduct and lead research in computer forensics-related areas. Research topics will include: steganography, reverse engineering, mobile computing and cyber crime, intellectual property theft, investigative and criminal methodologies, and computer forensics education.

The Rider Center for Business Forensics, located in the College of Business Administration, takes a multidisciplinary approach in the instruction of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as professional development programming for corporate, law enforcement and government organizations. The Accounting, Computer Information Systems and Science departments and the law and justice program provide faculty expertise.