The Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council (HSAAC) will provide recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on key issues across the homeland security enterprise as they relate to educational settings, institutions, and academic activity. These may include, but are not limited to:
- Student, faculty, school and campus-related safety;
- Emergency management and preparedness;
- Community resiliency;
- Anti-hate initiatives, addressing gun violence, targeted violence and terrorism;
- Misinformation, disinformation, and cyber-bullying;
- Engaging and integrating immigrant (resettlement) communities and new Americans as they intersect with academia;
- International students and visa processing;
- Collegiate cybersecurity initiatives;
- Foreign influence and interference in our academic institutions;
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion in educational settings; and
- developing applicant pipelines to support a 21st century DHS workforce.
Applications received prior to the February 15, 2022 deadline are currently under review.
Once formed, the Council will consist of:
- Up to four members representing higher education associations
- Up to two members representing higher education law enforcement, public safety, and emergency management associations
- Up to two members representing four-year colleges and universities
- Up to two members representing two-year community colleges
- Up to two members representing Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Up to two members representing Hispanic serving institutions
- Up to two members representing Tribal colleges
- Up to two members representing the Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander serving institutions
- Up to four members representing K-12 school systems, to include schools, school systems, and state educational agencies
- Up to two members representing Education Employee Associations/Labor Organizations
- Up to one member from the DHS Science and Technology Center of Excellence
- Up to one member from Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) School Safety Task Force
- Up to one member from the DHS Center for Prevention Programs and Partnership
- Up to one member from US Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center
- Up to one member from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) higher education initiatives
- Up to one member from the DHS Office for Civil Right and Civil Liberties (CRCL)
- Up to one member from the Department of Education
- Up to one member from the Department of State
- Up to one member from the Department of Justice
- Up to one member from the Department of Health and Human Services
Under the Secretary’s authority in Title 6, United States Code, section 451, the charter establishes the HSAAC as a discretionary committee. This committee is established in accordance with and operates under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Title 5, United States Code, Appendix).
HSAAC Materials
- HSAAC Subcommittees and Taskings
- Compendium of HSAAC Recommendations
- HSAAC Activities and Accomplishments Infographic
Past Meetings
- June 5, 2017 HSAAC Member Briefing Materials
- October 19, 2016: HSAAC Member Briefing Materials
- April 20, 2016: HSAAC Member Briefing Materials
- October 21, 2015: HSAAC Member Briefing Materials
- April 22, 2015: HSAAC Member Briefing Materials
- October 22, 2014: HSAAC Member Briefing Materials
- March 19, 2014: HSAAC Member Briefing Materials
- July 17, 2013: HSAAC Member Briefing Materials
- March 20, 2013: HSAAC Member Briefing Materials
- October 24, 2012: HSAAC Member Briefing Materials
- July 10, 2012: HSAAC Member Briefing Materials
- March 20, 2012: HSAAC Member Briefing Materials
Press Releases and Blog Posts
- Charter Amendments, Establishments, Renewals and Terminations: Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council, Release Date: January 12, 2022
- The HSAAC's Impact on DHS, Release Date: June 21, 2017
- Secretary Johnson Appoints New Members to Academic Advisory Council, Commits to New Initiative, Release Date: October 19, 2016
- Secretary Johnson Meets with Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council, Release Date: October 21, 2015
- DHS Announces Appointment of New Members of the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council, Release Date: October 16, 2015
- Celebrating Three Years of Service to the Homeland Security Mission, Release Date: April 24, 2015
- Readout of Deputy Secretary Mayorkas' Participation in the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council Meeting, Release Date: April 22, 2015
- Readout of Secretary Johnson’s Participation in the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council Meeting, Release Date: October 22, 2014
- Engaging the Academic Community in our Homeland Security Mission, Release Date: March 24, 2014
- DHS Announces Expansion of Cyber Student Volunteer Initiative, Release Date: December 16, 2013
- ICE Proposes Changes to International Student Programs, Release Date: November 20, 2013
- Readout of DHS and White House Officials’ Participation in Cybersecurity Workforce Roundtable, Release Date: November 5, 2013
- DHS Announces Cyber Student Initiative, Release Date: April 18, 2013
- Readout of Secretary Napolitano’s Visit to Philadelphia to Announce Campus Resilience Pilot Program, Release Date: April 2, 2013
- DHS Announces Campus Resilience Pilot Program for Colleges and Universities, Release Date: February 1, 2013
- Secretary Napolitano Announces Employment Honors Program at Academic Advisory Council Meeting, Release Date: October 24, 2012
- Secretary Napolitano Announces Academic Advisory Council, Release Date: March 1, 2012