General News

With the purpose of teaching the science and engineering of solar energy and partnering with industry to research methods for producing more-efficient and lower-cost solar cells, the Lee College of Engineering has opened the new Photovoltaic Technology Research Laboratory.

Located in the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center, the new photovoltaic lab is under the direction of Aba Ebong, professor of electrical and computer engineering.

Since learning about the University’s migration to Google Calendar and Gmail, Laura Williams, interim controller in financial services, has tapped into Google technology to encourage a collaborative working environment among her team members.

The College of Education’s Mickey Dunaway, a former principal and superintendent and an expert on public school law, will be the guest on the June 25 edition of “The Live Wire,” Inside UNC Charlotte’s streaming webcast. He will talk about how schools today continue efforts to maintain the delicate balance between students’ freedom of expression and right to privacy with teachers’ need to maintain a strong learning environment.

Watch “The Live Wire” via computer or mobile devices starting at 2 p.m.

The UNC-TV program “N.C. Now” will broadcast a segment on the University’s Mobile Arts & Community Experience (MAX) facility as part of its June 19 show, which airs at 7:30 p.m.

The UNC Charlotte Office of University Communications produced the video feature in conjunction with UNC-TV.

MAX is a mobile performance venue/community gathering space that can accommodate everything from circus arts to a neighborhood association meeting; it was built by Boxman Studios and funded through a grant from the Knight Foundation.

Bank of America is a major employer in the Charlotte region, and a large number of UNC Charlotte graduates work for the global financial services leader.

Recently, the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association held a reception for Bank of America employees who are University alums. Nearly 200 attended the event where Chancellor Philip L. Dubois provided them with an update on their alma mater, and how the University and Bank of America have forged a beneficial, long-term relationship.

 “A Defining Decade” is the cover story for the second quarter 2015 edition of the UNC Charlotte magazine; in the article, Chancellor Philip L. Dubois discusses the many milestones that have occurred during his tenure.

Winsor Schmidt, former chair of Urban Health Policy at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, is joining the College of Health and Human Services faculty this fall as the Metrolina Medical Foundation Distinguished Professor of Public Policy on Health.

A licensed attorney and former law professor, Schmidt has taught public policy for nearly 40 years. He also directed the Health Policy and Administration program at Washington State University prior to his most recent position at Louisville.

UNC Charlotte officials are offering a free mobile device application for students, faculty and staff to instantly share safety and security concerns with the University Police and Public Safety Department. The free app, called LiveSafe, is now available as campus safety officials introduced the new technology earlier this month.

Students and employees can download the free app on their smart phones and tablets through iTunes and Google Play.

From Gandy dancer to UNC Charlotte Employee of the Year could be the title of Kurt Richter’s biography.

Richter, an instructional technology specialist in the Center for Teaching and Learning, was honored earlier this year; his plaque rests within a special place inside his Kennedy Building office – his halibut/orange roughy fishing net.

Tara Pritchett, a staff auditor in the Internal Audit Department, recently received a Janet Royster Scholarship to pursue specialized professional development in the field of internal audit.

Pritchett, who holds a master’s degree in accounting, plans to use the scholarship to obtain certification in internal controls self-assessment through the Institute of Internal Auditors. According to Tom York, director of internal audit, this certification is a building block toward the profession’s ultimate credential – certified internal auditor.