The board granted a one-year conditional approval to Tech’s new post-baccalaureate program to train students to detect, report and respond to cyber threats. Students would learn to use encryption codes to securely pass information between systems, develop tamper protection electronic products and to conduct forensic investigations into computer systems and networks.

Graduates of the 12-semester-hour program would be nationally certified experts in the field, said Gerard Killebrew, associate commissioner of higher education for academic affairs.

Board of Regents research into the program found that even if the Cyber Center does not come to Barksdale, graduates would be in high demand for other jobs.