Requirements for US Military and US Civilian Students in CISA's JSOMA Program

As an incoming student to National Defense University in 2024, you will be part of an important milestone: the implementation of our new student information system, NDU Connect. We’re excited to offer an improved student experience, but also expect some bumps along the way. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate the new system and processes together. 

This page applies to US Military Students and US Civilian Students in the AY24-25 CISA Joint Special Operations Master of Arts (JSOMA) program.

See the University's Incoming Student Information page for a directory to other programs.

See CISA's JSOMA website for college- and program-specific Information. 


NDU Connect Student Portal for US Military Students

You will be sent a welcome message from NDU Connect to the email address that was provided to us. Please ensure that your service provides us valid email address to which you have reliable access throughout the admissions and onboarding process; personal emaiaddresses are preferred to ensure delivery of automated emails. Upon receipt of the welcome message, please follow the instructions to set your password for the NDU Connect Student Portal. After your initial login, access the student portal at https://ndu.my.site.com/login using your username, which was provided in the welcome message, and the password you created. Do not reuse the link in your welcome message.

In the NDU Connect Student Portal, you are required to complete the following:

1. Confirmation of Admission Action

  • Start in the Application Center.
  • Select the link to your application (i.e., APP-XXXX) under the column header Application Name; do not select your name.
  • Select Accept to indicate that you will attend NDU as expected. If your situation has changed, please select Decline or Defer, and you will be contacted by an NDU registrar to coordinate your status with your service.
  • Below your admissions offer and acceptance options, you will see an application form on this page. Please disregard – you are not required to complete an application.

Upon your acceptance of the admissions offer, you will be taken to the My Tasks tab in the portal.

2. Onboarding Validation Wizard

The wizard appears at top of the My Tasks page. Note that information we already have about you will be pre-filled in the wizard. Page 1 of the wizard is Information Required for Cyber Compliance (see NDU's IT and Cybersecurity Requirements page); the information will be used to prepopulate REQUIRED forms, which will be delivered to you later via DocuSign. To complete page 1:

  • Correct any of the pre-filled information.
  • Complete any missing information, specifically:
    • At least one Phone number
    • Preferred phone number
    • DoD CAC Number (EDIPI)
    • Social Security Number
    • Security Officer Name
    • Security Officer Email

Page 2 of the wizard is Information Required to Customize your Educational Experience: Please complete all information on the form.

3. Program-Specific Tasks

  • Complete the tasks in the Open Tasks list provided.
  • To view instructions for the task, click the hyperlink in the Subject column of the list.
  • For tasks that instruct you to upload a file, please go to the My Profile page, then:
    1. Click the Upload File button, select the type of file you are uploading, then click Next.
    2. Click Upload Files and select the file to upload. (Alternatively, you may drag and drop the file next to the Upload Files button.)
    3. Click Done in the pop-up window when your file has uploaded, then click Next. A new pop up will display the name of the file you uploaded. Click Next.
    4. You may verify the upload by going to the Related Tab and scrolling down to the Files area to upload. You will see your file, with a standardized file name.
  • As you finish each task, click the Mark Complete button and the task will disappear from your Open Tasks list.

NOTE:  Instructions are also provided in the portal for most of the onboarding steps. In addition to instructions, when you see the  symbol, hover over it to see more information.

If you need assistance, please contact connect_admin@ndu.edu.


IT and Cybersecurity Requirements for US Military Students

All students should thoroughly read NDU's IT and Cybersecurity Requirements page. In addition to completing the NDU Cyber Compliance Requirements, you will also need to complete the Fort Liberty Cyber Compliance Requirements. Completion of these requirements will be tracked in NDU Connect. You will have the opportunity during Student Orientation Week to troubleshoot technical issues both face-to-face and online with NDU Help Desk personnel.


Passing US Military Student Security Clearances to NDU

All security clearance information must be submitted to the NDU Security Office at least 30 days prior to the first day of class. Security Specialist POCs are Montez Winters, (202) 685-2134, and Cody Maxwell, (202) 685-7309. 

  • Active Duty Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Military Students: Security clearances will be verified through the Defense Information System for Security (DISS) by the NDU Security Office. Minimum required clearance is SECRET, SCI is not a requirement to attend. This verification process will begin 5 Jul 2024. 
  • DoD Military Reservists and National Guard Members: Security clearances must be passed to the NDU Security Office by the student's Reserve/Guard command via DISS. The Security Management Office (SMO) code to pass SECRET, TOP SECRET, and SCI clearances through DISS to NDU is DJJNDU3/JFSC is DJJNDU7. The name of the student's college (CIC, CISA, ES, NWC or course of instruction JCWS, JAWS) must be entered into the POC section of the visit request for the clearance to be identified properly by NDU Security Specialists. This verification process will begin 5 Jul 2024. You will be required to report the completion of this task in NDU Connect.
  • Coast Guard Military Students: A Visit Request must be submitted to NDU's Security Office on official letterhead via FAX to (202) 685-3765. TS and SCI Clearances must be submitted separately via FAX. Students attending at JFSC send FAX to (757) 443-6046. This verification process will begin on 5 Jul 2024. You will be required to report the completion of this task in NDU Connect.

NDU Connect Student Portal for US Civilian Students

You will be sent a welcome message from NDU Connect to the email address that was provided to us. Please ensure that your service provides us valid email address to which you have reliable access throughout the admissions and onboarding process; personal emaiaddresses are preferred to ensure delivery of automated emails. Upon receipt of the welcome message, please follow the instructions to set your password for the NDU Connect Student Portal. After your initial login, access the student portal at https://ndu.my.site.com/login using your username, which was provided in the welcome message, and the password you created. Do not reuse the link in your welcome message.

In the NDU Connect Student Portal, you are required to complete the following:

1. Nomination Package

  • Start in the Application Center.
  • Select the link to your application (i.e., APP-XXXX) under the column header Application Name; do not select your name.
  • Complete the form in the Application tab.
  • Complete the items in the Checklist tab.
  • When your nomination package is complete, click the Submit button.

After your nomination package has been reviewed by the university, you will be notified of your admissions status by your agency. Admitted students will be instructed to return to the NDU Connect Student Portal to complete the remaining steps:

2. Confirmation of Admission Action

  • Return to the NDU Connect Student Portal by logging in with your username and password.
  • Return to the Application Center.
  • Select the link to your application (i.e., APP-XXXX) under the column header Application Name; do not select your name.
  • Select Accept to indicate that you will attend NDU as expected. If your situation has changed, please select Decline or Defer, and you will be contacted by an NDU registrar to coordinate your status with your agency.
  • NOTE: Below your admissions offer and acceptance options, you will be able to see, but not change, the nomination package you submitted.

Upon your acceptance of the admissions offer, you will be taken to the My Tasks tab in the portal.

3. Onboarding Validation Wizard

The wizard appears at top of the My Tasks page. Note that information we already have about you will be pre-filled in the wizard. Page 1 of the wizard is Information Required for Cyber Compliance (see NDU's IT and Cybersecurity Requirements page); the information will be used to prepopulate REQUIRED forms, which will be delivered to you later via DocuSign. To complete page 1:

  • Correct any of the pre-filled information.
  • Complete any missing information, specifically:
    • At least one Phone number
    • Preferred phone number
    • DoD CAC Number (EDIPI) – required for Department of Defense civilians
    • Social Security Number
    • Security Officer Name
    • Security Officer Email

Page 2 of the wizard is Information Required to Customize your Educational Experience: Please complete all information on the form.

4. Program-Specific Tasks

  • Complete the tasks in the Open Tasks list provided.
  • To view instructions for the task, click the hyperlink in the Subject column of the list.
  • For tasks that instruct you to upload a file, please go to the My Profile page, click on the Related Tab, and scroll down to the Files area to upload. Please follow the file naming convention in the instructions, e.g. SmithJ_KeyPolicies, RiveraM_RecordsRelease.
  • As you finish each task, click the Mark Complete button and the task will disappear from your Open Tasks list.

NOTE:  Instructions are also provided in the portal for most of the onboarding steps. In addition to instructions, when you see the  symbol, hover over it to see more information.

If you need assistance, please contact connect_admin@ndu.edu.


IT and Cybersecurity Requirements for US Civilian Students

All students should thoroughly read NDU's IT and Cybersecurity Requirements page. In addition to completing the NDU Cyber Compliance Requirements, you will also need to complete the Fort Liberty Cyber Compliance Requirements. Completion of these requirements will be tracked in NDU Connect. You will have the opportunity during Student Orientation Week to troubleshoot technical issues both face-to-face and online with NDU Help Desk personnel.


Passing DoD and Non-DoD Federal Agency US Civilian Student Clearances to NDU

All security clearance information must be submitted to the NDU Security Office at least 30 days prior to the first day of class. Security Specialist POCs are Montez Winters, (202) 685-2134, and Cody Maxwell, (202) 685-7309.  

  • DoD Civilians: Security clearances will be verified through the Defense Information System for Security (DISS) by the NDU Security Office. Minimum required clearance is SECRET; SCI is not a requirement to attend. The Security Management Office (SMO) code to pass SECRET, TOP SECRET, and SCI clearances through DISS to NDU is DJJNDU3/JFSC is DJJNDU7. The name of the student's college (CIC, CISA, ES, NWC or course of instruction JCWS, JAWS) must be entered into the POC section of the visit request for the clearance to be identified properly by NDU Security Specialists. This verification process will begin 5 Jul 2024.
  • Non-DoD Civilians:  A Visit Request must be submitted to NDU's Security Office by the student's employing agency or organization on official letterhead via FAX to (202) 685-3765. TS and SCI Clearances must be submitted separately via FAX. Students who are attending NDU based upon a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) must have their employing agency or organization submit a NACI confirmation with date of investigation on official letterhead via FAX to (202) 685-3765; Students attending at JFSC send FAX to (757) 443-6046. This verification process will begin on 5 Jul 2024. You will be required to report the completion of this task in NDU Connect.