MISSION AND HISTORY

The Institute's Mission

The Economic Crime Institute has a three-fold mission: (1) To advise and support the academic programs in criminal justice, economic crime, and cybersecurity at Utica College as well as the students and faculty in those programs; (2) To recommend and support education and research in economic crime, computer forensics, and information security and privacy through facilities at Utica College and elsewhere; and (3) To provide a reliable resource for innovative solutions to corporate, government, and law enforcement entities.

What We Do

For the undergraduate and graduate students at Utica College:

The Institute fosters a rich learning environment that positions graduates to assume key roles in the fields of criminal justice, economic crime, fraud and risk management, law enforcement, and cybersecurity.


The Institute executes this mission by, in part:

• Offering internships to undergraduate students
• Advising the faculty on trends within various industries and professions and the content of curricula that might best address those trends
• Participating in lectures and the College and in speaking opportunities at the annual conference
• Providing the funding or other support for special needs as they are identified by the College administration or faculty

For the larger community of anti-fraud, anti-economic crime, and cybersecurity academics and professionals:

The Institute is a forum for the exchange of ideas, solutions, and technology for managing the risk of cybercrime, economic crime and fraud.

History

The Economic Crime Investigation Institute was formed in 1988. The name was changed to the Economic Crime Institute of Utica College in 2003. The original board of directors had approximately eight members, drawn from MasterCard International, the Equitable, the United States Justice Department, the United States Congress, and the Internal Revenue Service. The Board of Advisors now includes representatives of such organizations as KPMG, JP Morgan Chase, and Northrop Grumman to name a few.

In 1990, the first annual conference was held in Utica, New York. It was the first national conference on computer crime and attracted individuals from the northeast. By 1994 the conference was relocated to the New York City area, as the attendance had widened in geographical scope and a larger arena and one that was more convenient was required. Two years later the conference was moved to Washington, DC, where it is still held. Keynote speakers and conference panelists are drawn from the top levels of government on a regular basis.

At the time of the Institute’s conception, Utica College had just begun to offer the first undergraduate degree in Economic Crime Investigation. The program began with approximately 15 students and has grown to over 165 students both on campus and online. The Board of Advisors has been instrumental in providing financial support for a state-of-the-art computer laboratory at the college, as well as for print and non-print resources. With the Board of Advisors’ guidance and financial support, Utica College developed the Economic Crime Management (ECM) Master’s Degree in 1998. The program is offered in a distance learning format, with six one-week residencies over two years held on campus. The first cohort of 13 students graduated in 2001.

The Center for Identity Management and Information Protection (www.cimip.org) was launched in June 2006. The Center is a research collaborative composed of corporate, government, law enforcement, and academic partners committed to conducting research that will result in cutting edge educational and training materials for academe, law enforcement, government agencies, and corporations, as well as the foundation for new legislation and regulation.




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