Cyber Policy Briefs
FAMU Cyber Policy Briefs White Papers
Brief Series ISSN: 3070-8001
Scientific and Policy Merit of the FAMU Cyber Policy Briefs
The FAMU Cyber Policy Briefs are not opinion essays or informal commentaries. They
are scientific position white papers that use evidence, theory, data, legal analysis,
professional standards, and interdisciplinary scholarship to support policy-relevant
conclusions.
Their merit lies in their ability to connect research to action. By grounding policy
positions in data and/or theory, the briefs make knowledge intellectually relevant,
scientifically credible, and useful for public decision-making. This gives the series
value as a scholarly publication, a policy resource, and a practical guide for leaders
addressing cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, education, digital equity, and
social impact.
Through this work, the Florida A&M University Cyber Policy Institute advances HBCU-led
scholarship. It contributes to national conversations on responsible technology, policy,
public trust, civil rights, institutional readiness, and community-centered innovation.
Audience, Purpose, Style, and Format
| Area | FAMU Cyber Policy Briefs White Papers |
| Audience | The audience includes legislators, government leaders, university administrators, educators, nonprofit organizations, think tanks, industry executives, cybersecurity professionals, legal professionals, community leaders, faith-based organizations, students, and ordinary citizens. |
| Purpose | Readers use the white paper to learn, in detail, about a cyber, AI, education, public policy, or social impact problem and its possible solutions. Leaders may use the brief to inform policy, practice, institutional decision-making, funding priorities, program development, and community action. For authors, the white paper provides an opportunity to inform leaders and constituencies about a problem and influence how the problem is addressed through policy. |
| Tone and Style | FAMU Cyber Policy Briefs should be objective in tone, accessible in style, and grounded in authoritative sources. Even when a brief makes a specific recommendation, its tone should remain informative, scholarly, and evidence-based rather than overly persuasive. |
| Format | Policy-focused white papers may range from approximately 5 to 50 pages, depending on the complexity of the issue and the level of detail required. Briefs may include tables, charts, figures, models, and visual elements, but they should remain professional, clear, and publication-ready. |
Submission Overview
The FAMU Cyber Policy Briefs White Papers, published through the Florida A&M University
Cyber Policy Institute, are formal, research-informed policy publications designed
to examine critical problems and present evidence-based solutions. In their traditional
form, white papers are written and used by policymakers to examine a policy problem
and consider an array of possible solutions. Therefore, the FAMU Cyber Policy Briefs
follow a clear problem-solution structure.
In some white papers, the author may recommend a specific solution. In others, the
author may present several possible solutions without identifying one preferred option.
Regardless of the approach, each white paper should maintain an objective tone, be
meticulously researched, and provide facts, data, theory, and scholarly evidence to
support its claims. Authors are expected to demonstrate expertise in the policy issue
addressed.
The FAMU Cyber Policy Briefs focus on policy-relevant issues related to cybersecurity,
artificial intelligence, education, digital ethics, public policy, workforce development,
health, human behavior, civil rights, privacy, community impact, and social responsibility.
These briefs translate complex technical, legal, ethical, and social challenges into
clear, actionable insights for policymakers, educators, institutional leaders, community
organizations, industry executives, and the public.
All FAMU Cyber Policy Briefs White Papers are reviewed using a double-blind review
process and are expected to meet the standards of a scientific publication. Each brief
should use data and/or theory to support all stated positions, making the knowledge
intellectually relevant and grounded in scientific merit.
The Structure of a FAMU Cyber Policy Brief White Paper
FAMU Cyber Policy Briefs follow a problem-solution structure. The main sections may
include:
- Executive Summary
- Introduction or Background
- Description of the Problem
- Criteria for Acceptable Solutions
- Possible Solutions
- Evaluation or Critique of Solutions
- Recommendations
- Conclusion
- References
Some authors may include all of these sections, while others may use only the sections
most appropriate for the issue being addressed. Papers should be 3–5 pages only.
Sample Table of Contents Options
| White Paper Structure 1 | White Paper Structure 2 | White Paper Structure 3 |
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In actual FAMU Cyber Policy Briefs, the general section titles may be replaced with
language specific to the policy issue. For example:
- “AI Bias and the Future of Educational Equity”
- “Cybersecurity as Public Safety: Protecting Communities from Digital Disruption”
- “Digital Privacy and Civil Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”
- “Building the HBCU Cyber Workforce Pipeline”
- “Protecting Schools, Libraries, and Student Data from Cyber Threats”
If you desire to provide an opinion about a current cyber policy-related topic. Submit
your White Paper today for review and possible publication.
Submit all White Papers here for review for publication: cyberpolicyinstitute@famu.edu
Send white papers to the Cyber Policy Institute Email address: cyberpolicyinstitute@famu.edu
Editorial Independence and Disclaimer:
The views expressed in each policy brief are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of Florida A&M University or the Florida A&M University Cyber Policy Institute. The Institute maintains academic independence in research, analysis, and policy recommendations.
Fellowship Research
The Florida A&M University Cyber Policy Institute also provides access to publications
developed by Institute Fellows who are conducting research in areas aligned with cyber
policy, artificial intelligence, digital governance, cybersecurity education, workforce
development, ethics, privacy, community resilience, and social impact. Through the
Brief Series, Fellows have an opportunity to translate their research into policy-relevant
white papers that inform institutional practice, public decision-making, and community-centered
innovation.
This publication pathway strengthens the Institute’s role as both a research hub and
a policy translation center. It allows emerging and established scholars, practitioners,
and Fellows to contribute scientifically grounded knowledge that can guide leaders,
agencies, schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and communities. By supporting
the publication of Fellows’ research, the Cyber Policy Institute expands access to
HBCU-led scholarship and creates a formal platform for advancing evidence-based solutions
to urgent cyber and technology policy challenges.
Through this work, the Florida A&M University Cyber Policy Institute advances HBCU-led
scholarship and contributes to national conversations on responsible technology, policy,
public trust, civil rights, institutional readiness, and community-centered innovation.
