Nov 21, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalogue 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalogue Archived Catalogue

Special Academic Centers


 

The H. David & Diane Swain Center for Business and Economic Services

(http://uncw.edu/swain)

The Center for Business and Economic Services in the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina Wilmington is the business research/extension division in the business school. The center’s staff provides research services as well as technical assistance in regional economic development. In addition, the center creates and administers seminars and other professional education programs to assist individuals and organizations in developing their managerial, technical, and personal capabilities.

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

(http://www.uncw.edu/cie/index.html)

The mission of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is to be a catalyst for entrepreneurship at UNCW and entrepreneurial growth in Southeastern North Carolina by linking together emerging and high-growth ventures, students, entrepreneurs, UNCW faculty and staff, and relevant support organizations to create business growth, educational opportunities, research, internships and jobs, as well as innovation.

Center for Marine Science

(http://www.uncw.edu/cms/)

The Center for Marine Science (CMS) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington is dedicated to interdisciplinary approaches to answering questions in basic marine research. The mission of the center is to promote basic and applied research in the fields of oceanography, coastal and estuarine studies, marine biotechnology and aquaculture, marine biology, marine chemistry, and marine geology. Faculty from 11 departments with teaching and/or research interests related to the marine sciences participate in this program; including marine science researchers in the Departments of Biology and Marine Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Geography and Geology, Environmental Sciences, and Physics and Physical Oceanography. Center faculty serve on regional, national and international research and policy advisory groups and thereby contribute to the development of agendas on marine research in the United States and the world. International interactions with labs in Europe, North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa, Bermuda, the Bahamas and Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and all regions of the coastal United States augment extensive programs addressing North Carolina coastal issues. By integrating these advisory functions with research programs of the highest quality, CMS enhances the educational experience provided by the University of North Carolina Wilmington for both undergraduate and graduate students in marine science.

The Center for Marine Science occupies a research and education facility located six miles from the main campus on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, providing support for coastal and marine science efforts throughout UNCW. The modern marine science center at Myrtle Grove has a total of 181,000 square feet of net indoor space including: a new 69,000 square foot marine biotechnology building and 12,000 square foot shellfish research hatchery, group meeting facilities for up to 150 individuals; fully equipped research laboratories, classrooms, and marine science laboratories; a greenhouse with running seawater; a radioisotope laboratory; computer workrooms, cold rooms, and walk-in freezers; temperature controlled rooms; autoclave and media preparation room; darkroom; chemical storage and balance rooms; fireproof vault for data storage; clean room; central analytic facility; sample processing rooms; aquarium room with running seawater; 7,200 gallon oceanographic test tank with electric overhead hoist; indoor storage; outdoor storage; shower/locker facilities; and outdoor facility for tanks with running sea water.

Core facilities include: nutrient analysis; DNA sequencing; oceanographic instrumentation; running seawater systems; and high-field NMR and stable isotope ratio mass spectroscopy. The seawater system provides raw, filtered, and purified seawater; tank farm services; and aquarium room services. The location of the center provides easy access to regional marine environments such as: tidal marshes/mud flats/sand flats/oyster reefs; tidal creeks; barrier islands and tidal inlets; the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; near shore marine environments; the Gulf Stream; hard bottom communities; sand dunes and maritime forests; and both highly developed and minimally developed estuarine environments. A 770-foot pier with docking facilities for several coastal research vessels is in place on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The center maintains 22 research vessels ranging in size from sixteen to sixty-eight feet as well as specialized equipment for offshore and nearshore/estuarine sampling and observation.

The Center for Marine Science serves as host for: the Coastal Ocean Research and Monitoring Program (CORMP); the Undersea Vehicles Program; an Extension Office for North Carolina Sea Grant; the Marine Mammal Stranding Network; the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve; and UNCW’s Marine Quest Program, an extensive community outreach program for public schools and adult education.

Center for Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics - CESTEM

http://www.uncw.edu/cestem/

The Center for Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics - CESTEM - (formerly the Science and Mathematics Education Center - SMEC) at UNCW is committed to regional service and endeavors to stimulate teachers’ intellectual curiosity and increase exposure to current technology. The center is responsible for the identification, development, delivery, and evaluation of K-16 professional development programming in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). CESTEM applies the resources of UNC Wilmington to improve the teaching and learning of STEM disciplines in the K-16 schools of southeastern North Carolina. The center, working with faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students from the College of Science and Engineeering and the Watson College of Education, offers a range of professional development programs in the areas of STEM for in-service elementary-, middle-, and high-school teachers. Through center-sponsored seminars, workshops, and courses, teachers can renew licensure in science, mathematics, and technology.

CESTEM operates the Technology Loan Program (TLP), a program that lends science and technology materials and other resources to regional K-16 teachers for their classrooms. CESTEM also hosts student competions, including the Southeast Regional Science and Engineering Fair, the Wilmington Regional Science Olympiad, and the Regional SeaPerch Comptetion annually.

Contact CESTEM at 962-3168 for more information on programs.

Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)

(www.sbtdc.org/offices/uncw/)

The Small Business and Technology Development Center is a business development service of The University of North Carolina system that provides management counseling and education services to small and mid-sized businesses in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties. The SBTDC at UNCW provides services in New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Duplin, Brunswick, Bladen and Columbus counties. The center helps established firms, high-growth companies and start-up businesses meet today’s challenges, manage change, and plan for the future.

Services are well defined and are designed to meet clients’ needs:

  • Management Counseling – The center helps businesses with financing, marketing, human resources, operations, business planning, and feasibility assessment.
  • Management Education Services – The SBTDC also provides targeted, research-based educational products that are focused on change management, strategic performance, and leadership development for management team, employees, and board members.
  • In addition, it offers specialized market development assistance in:
    • government procurement
    • international export financing
    • marine trades services
    • technology development and commercialization.

For those thinking about starting a business, the SBTDC at UNCW offers a Pre-Venture Orientation (PVO) program on a regular basis. This two-hour class offers an excellent overview of the first steps in starting a business, obtaining financing and business planning. There is no fee to attend the program.

For more information, call the SBTDC at UNCW at (910) 962-3744 or visit our Web site at www.sbtdc.org/offices/uncw/.