MISSION AND HISTORY

 

Mission

The Economic Crime Institute of Utica College drives leading-edge thinking on economic crime issues faced by business and government, through educational programs, policy guidance, research, and solutions. The Institute fosters a rich learning environment that positions graduates to assume key roles in the fields of economic crime, fraud, and risk management. The Institute is a forum for the exchange of ideas, solutions, and technology for managing the risk of 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 Lockheed Martin 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 through the ensuing years. 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-printresources. 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.

Two online journals began publication in 2002, an initiative the ECI considers key to attaining its goal of disseminating information and cutting edge research on current economic crime and information security issues. The International Journal of Digital Evidence (www.ijde.org) is a forum for the publication and discussion of theory, research, policy, and practice in the rapidly changing field of digital evidence, while the Journal of Economic Crime Management (www.jecm.org) provides articles on theory, research, policy, and practice in the areas of economic crime and fraud management.

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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