UA’s Culverhouse Set to Open Premier Business Analytics Lab Oct. 14

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce will officially open its Business Analytics Lab Oct. 14 at 3:30 p.m. in 250 Bidgood Hall.

The grand opening event will include a ribbon cutting at 3:30 p.m. and analytics demonstrations on two 20-foot video boards from 3:30-5:15 p.m. Lockheed Martin, SAS and Healthcare Business Solutions provided funding and support for the lab, believed to be the first of its kind in the nation.

“This is an exciting time for the College and University as we continue to be a leader in business analytics education,” said Dr. Brian Gray, interim dean, Culverhouse College of Commerce. “Now we have the facilities and technology to bring together faculty, students and businesses to solve real-world, big data problems facing corporations today.”

The Business Analytics Lab will serve as a premier research center for data analytics that provides collaboration and research across government, industry, and academia to help companies anticipate and solve critical problems.

The unique lab setting will augment the traditional classroom experience by focusing on the development and application of analytics technology; strengthening the analytics labor pool to meet industry needs for a diverse workforce; and providing visual, hands-on experiences that represent the foundations for analytics applications and research.

UA President Stuart R. Bell, Dr. J. Michael Hardin, former dean of Culverhouse, and representatives from corporate partners will provide brief remarks and be among those cutting the ribbon to the lab.

The grand opening event will be held in conjunction with the 2015 Business Analytics Symposium Oct. 15-16, at the Bryant Conference Center. The two-day symposium explores the world of analytics with presenters this year from General Motors, ESPN, SAS, Regions, Healthcare Business Solutions and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.