Resources and Support for Students and Faculty

The IGkNU was founded by a grant from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), under the Intelligence Community Centers of Academic Excellence (IC CAE) program, implemented to more broadly educate university students for national security and intelligence professions. The CAE funds a rich constellation of curricular and extra-curricular endeavors that make up the Global Security Studies and Leadership (GSSL) program. While true to its founding, IG^kNU includes a constantly growing number of other projects that, together, leverage research, teaching, and learning capacity and opportunities to study and work on solutions to a wide range of problems facing Texas, the United States, the Americas, and the world. IG^kNU programs and projects provide resources to prepare UTPA students to assume responsibility among the next generation of professionals in leadership track jobs in the global economy, in Texas and across the country. And, IG^kNU offers opportunities for faculty to join existing interdisciplinary teams, and form new ones designed to facilitate, enhance, and grow their teaching, research, and community outreach in innovative, high impact ways.

Among its offerings and resources, IG^kNU

• Curriculum in Global Security Studies and Leadership
  • Undergraduate Study in Global Security Studies (GSST)
  • Graduate study in Global Security Studies and Leadership (GSSL)
  • Graduate Certificate in Global Security Studies and Leadership (GSSL)
• Study Abroad experiences for undergraduate students.
  • Morocco Language and Cultural Immersion Program
  • China Language and Cultural Immersion Program
• Washington, D.C. Leadership Academy for undergraduate and graduate Students(fully funded GSSL Program).
• Curriculum Development Support:
  • GSSL Curriculum development workshops.
  • Small grants to develop courses and course clusters
• Three GSSL speaker programs:
  • GSSL Speaker Series, featuring leading global security scholars and experts.
  • GSSL Colloquium Series, featuring national and international security professionals speaking on their work and careers.
  • GSSL Faculty Seminar Series, featuring UTPA faculty research presentations and discussions.
• Research and Grant Support:
  • Facilitate grant writing and submission.
  • Facilitate organization of working groups to identify goals and seek funding opportunities.
  • Capacity to leverage the power of existing UTPA programs and funding to gain advantage in grant applications.
• IG^kNU Resource Room, 310 UTPA Library, open to all:
  • Books and journals on open shelves.
  • Online global security and intelligence databases.
  • Computers stations.
  • Venue for events (book signings, lectures, videoconferences)
• Videoconference system:
  • Mobile for use throughout Social and Behavioral Sciences Building.
  • Available to schedule through SBS Dean’s Office (381-3551).
• High School GSSL Programs:
  • Weekend programs and workshops.
  • The Got Intelligence Summer Institute, one week at UTPA (expenses paid)
  • Chinese language concurrent enrollment program.
• Foreign Languages and Cultures::
  • Chinese language classes.
  • Portuguese language classes.
  • Arabic language classes.
  • Extra-curricular events and activities featuring diverse cultures.
• Business Management of Grants and Contracts
  • Provided by CSBS Research Center.
  • Provides full business management for PI’s.
  • PI controls her/his money and project.
  • Frees PI to work on research and teaching, instead of business management.
  • Assures compliance and preparation for audits.