OATdb Archive

2013 - 2014

Center Of Excellence In Digital Forensics

Goal
Curriculum Planning
The Center of Excellence in Digital Forensics will engage in a continuous curriculum planning to maintain currency in in-service training in Digital Forensics

Objective
Maintaining Quality Curriculum
The Center of Excellence in Digital Forensics needs to maintain  current, and high quality curriculum to meet the needs of its client base, which includes local and state law enforcement, federal agencies and other legal professional bodies.

KPI
Curriculum Oversight Committee
The center has established a curriculum oversight committee to engage in an ongoing curriculum review process. The committee initially consists of Mr. Charles Andrews (Industry Investigative Best Practices in Management), Dr. Peter Cooper (protocol and procedure), Michael Bentley (technical and investigative best practices), and Aaron Hughes (technical and expert testimony) The curriculum review is performed on a consensus view basis with additional external ad hoc members brought in as necessary. The forming of this committee is an indication of the CEDF commitment to curriculum improvement.


Result
Committee Formed
The committee was successfully formed and convened and will provide feedback for existing curriculum and advice on future curriculum direction and deliverables.

Action
Establish Schedule For Meetings In Coming Year
A regular schedule of advisory board review and guidance meetings will be established for the coming year.


Goal
Public Relations
The center serves police departments and federal agencies in the state of Texas. The center faculty and staff will maintain consistent and professional relations with its clientele base.

Objective
Public Relations
To maintain professional and consistent contact with the center’s clientele (police department and federal agencies in the state of Texas).

KPI
Client Responses
The Center's Director will select a representative sample of departments and agencies from the clientele base and contact directors from those departments and agencies on at least an annual basis. 

Result
Formal Relationships
Continued expansion of CEDF relationships in the public and private sectors have brought about formal relationships with law enforcement, educational and industry partners which are showing good promise for future collaborative, speaking, trinaing, research, and funding opportunities.

Action
Continued Expansion
The Center will actively engage beyond the local community to establish formal relationships with more national and internationally recognized organizations

Goal
Student Satisfaction
The center exists to provide training services to law enforcement and other legal groups. It is central to the mission of the Center that the trainees are satisfied with the quality of the services they receive.

Objective
Student Evaluation
The Center needs to maintain high levels of student satisfaction with the center’s services

Indicator
Student Satisfaction Survey
Each student will complete an anonymous exit survey upon completion of the program

Criterion
Student Evaluation
Student satisfaction will be considered high if the students’ answers average four or better on a five point scale. 

Action
Issue Surveys
The center will actively pursue the issuance and review of feedback surveys to support future review

Goal
Technical Competency
THe curriculum is structured in the form of continuing professional education and must result in the students developing and attaining technical competence.

Objective
Technical Competency
To develop students’ technical skills in the areas of legal and organizational issues, procedure and protocol and tan understanding of the underlying concepts associated with the forensics of digital storage and communications devices.

Indicator
Student Learning Assessment
Students are required to complete a test at the end of each training session and the tests are developed by a group of faculty with expertise in the appropriate areas and professionals in the field of digital forensics. A rubric for evaluating students’ performances was developed by the faculty and professionals who developed the test. At the end of each training session a committee of faculty with expertise in the relevant areas will randomly select 10 tests and evaluate the test using the rubric. Faculty will score the tests on a scale of 1 – 5

Action
Course Achievement Review
The center will submit course and research deliverables to SMEs and peer reviewed forums to gauge the technical competance of the courses, research and deliverables being produced through the Center and its efforts


Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement CEDF formalized relationships with the FBI, (ISC)2, Sierra Nevada Corp, ESC Region 6, 3 local School Districs and the Huntsville Police department for training, curriculum development, research and testing engagements.

Plan for continuous improvement The CEDF plans to continue expanding on and beyond existing industry and public relationships as well as expand the services and support roles it will make available to law enforcement and industry.  The CEDF will also begin seeking to move beyond the auspices of the CS department and become a college or system level resource.  The Center will also be actively seeking funding for full time research, technical, clerical, and instructional staff.