Universities Play Major Role in National Security

The United States' preoccupation with national security, including counterterrorism, counterintelligence and cyber security, is also a concern of higher education, according to Graham Spanier, president of Penn State University.

Spanier, who chairs the National Security Higher Education Advisory Board, addressed attendees at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington, D.C., stressing that higher education is part of the national security solution.

"The National Security Higher Education Advisory Board consists of 20 research university presidents and the heads of two higher education associations in cooperation with many federal agencies," Spanier said. "We serve as a collaborative group that can foster communications and cooperation through research, education and public awareness to further aid our nation's security interests."

Created in 2005, NSHEAB discusses issues of national security to promote understanding between higher education, the FBI and other federal agencies, such as the Department of Commerce, the Department of State, the Department of Defense and intelligence agencies. The NSHEAB is administered by the FBI.

Spanier noted that universities like Penn State – which enrolls more than 97,000 students -- host a large number of foreign students and academic visitors, as well as high-profile national and international visitors.

Universities also frequently have high concentrations of people in limited spaces. During many Saturdays each fall, Penn State becomes the third largest city in Pennsylvania when it hosts football games in Beaver Stadium, something that heightens concerns about security. Universities have also been targets for ecoterrorists and animal rights terrorists. Awareness, vigilance, and a spirit of cooperation with local, state, and federal agencies are necessary for the success and safety of a research university.

The NSHEAB tries to help federal agencies better understand the unique culture, traditions and practices of higher education, including the culture of openness and academic freedom and the importance of international collaboration.

While universities may be concerned about their own security, they also produce vast amounts of research for the agencies involved in protecting the country. The relatively new area of cyber security includes everything from viruses, worms and trojans to identity theft, denial of service, hacking and cracking. Universities are sometimes conduits for these attacks, but their faculty researchers and information technology staff are also working to prevent these attacks. From research in cyber security to non-lethal weapons, forensics applications and devices to sniff out explosives, universities supply the agencies that protect the nation with the methods they need to meet current threats.

Featured

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

  • Report: Cyber Attackers Continue to Turn to AI-Based Tools to Avoid Detection

    Comcast Business recently released its 2025 Cybersecurity Threat Report, a comprehensive analysis of 34.6 billion cybersecurity events detected between June 1,2024 and May 31, 2025. Now in its third year, the report offers business leaders a unique perspective into the evolving threat landscape and provides actionable insights to help organizations strengthen their defenses and align cybersecurity with business risk. Read Now

  • Axis Communications Creates AI-powered Video Surveillance Orchestra

    What if cameras could not only see the world, but interpret it—and respond like orchestra musicians reading sheet music: instantly, precisely, and in perfect harmony? That’s what global network technology leader Axis Communications set to find out. Read Now

  • Just as Expected

    GSX produced a wonderful tradeshow earlier this week. Monday was surprisingly strong in the morning, and the afternoon wasn’t bad at all. That’s Monday’s results and asking attendees to travel on Sunday. Just a quick hint, no one wants to give up their weekend to travel and set up an exhibit booth. I’m just saying. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • NOLA: The Crescent City

    Twenty years later we finds ourselves in New Orleans. Twenty years ago the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina forced exhibitors and attendees to look elsewhere for tradeshow floor space. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.