The leadership academy at UNC Charlotte

In addition to the academic preparation engineering students receive in the classroom, today\´s graduates also need to be prepared to enter the workforce with the ability to confidently interact in a corporate setting, as well as have an awareness of their own personal strengths and weaknesses. Technically competent graduates who also possess these "soft skills" are much more attractive candidates for potential employers. To address this need, the Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte has developed the leadership academy, a unique program providing the opportunity for students to develop their leadership potential. The leadership academy teaches engineering students to deal with realistic challenges they will face in the business world, explore their own personal development process, and practice their leadership skills in a controlled setting. This extra-curricular program is conducted through evening and weekend retreats and is facilitated by a range of engineering faculty, alumni, and corporate partners over a two year time span. This paper describes the purpose of the leadership academy, engaging structure of the active learning environment, partnerships with industry, and specific areas of focus within the program components.