MARCH

NCSSM Prom 2026:

“The Prom Committee is excited to extend an invitation to all residential students to join us for a night at Prom in Wonderland 2026. Prom will occur on April 11th from 8pm-12am at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. Most students on campus attend Prom, and students are allowed to bring guests as dates from other schools by purchasing a ticket under their guest’s name. Click HERE for details about the event, how to purchase tickets, important forms, transportation options, and more!

Each year, the Prom Committee invites NCSSM families to participate in the festivities by volunteering the night of Prom at the Museum of Life and Science. There are many opportunities to be involved, from helping out with set up, to organizing the coat check, to serving appetizers, desserts, and drinks, to directing students throughout the museum, and of course the dash to clean everything up and pack it away in record time at the end of the night. Even if you can’t join us at the museum for prom night, you have the opportunity to purchase desserts for students to enjoy! For more information about volunteering at Prom, be on the lookout for an email from Janine Brumfield in the coming weeks for signups!

In keeping with tradition, Student Life will also host an After Prom event for students to enjoy late night pizza in the PEC after prom ends. Additional details about the event and how to participate will be shared with students in future communications.

As you and your student make plans for Prom 2026, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Prom Coordinators at prom@ncssm.edu with any questions.”

Spring Break:

“Just a quick reminder that the Residence Halls will be closing on Friday, March 27th at 5:00pm. Halls will reopen on Monday, April 6th at noon. Since this is a long break students must unplug all items in their room, including fridges and fish tanks. Students should properly defrost their fridge to avoid puddles or mold growth over the break.

Students will submit an Overnight pass on Orah before or during our hall meeting right before the Spring Break. On this Orah pass, they indicate where they are going for the break, who they are traveling with, and how they are getting to their destination. If students have specific questions about checkout procedures for Spring Break, they should speak to me.”

Move Out:

“Juniors and Seniors will receive an email with information concerning move-out in April. In the meantime, best practice is to start evaluating which items you may be able to take home over Spring Break and the upcoming extended weekend. The more items you can get home over our final extended weekends of the year, the easier move-out will be for you. Good items to consider taking home are winter coats and clothes, extra furniture, and large items.”

February

Return to NCSSM-Durham DELAYED until Friday

“Unfortunately, we must delay NCSSM-Durham students’ return to campus until Friday due to water damage on campus from a burst pipe. If you plan on returning to campus after Friday, please submit an Orah pass with your specific return date/time and travel arrangements. If you are returning on Friday, you do not need to submit an Orah pass. CCs will be confirming pass details with guardians this week.”

Asia Fest

“The Asian Student Association (ASA) is excited to announce NCSSM’s second cultural fest of the year, Asia Fest! Get ready for a night filled with beautiful cultural performances, empowered voices, and spirited students exploring the cultures of Asia! We’ll be revealing a special theme (coming very soon) while celebrating traditional Asian cultures and uplifting contemporary AAPI voices along the way.

Mark your calendars!

Date: Saturday, February 21st, 2026

Time: 7:30 PM

Location: ETC Auditorium

Everyone is welcome to watch Asia Fest! Because seating is limited, tickets will be required for physical seating, so be sure to watch for ticketing info coming soon. Tickets are of no cost! If you are not able to make it to the performance, a livestream will be provided.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you all at Asia Fest!”

Senior Leadership Campus Service:

“The Senior Leadership Campus Service (SLCS) selection process is underway! Over twenty different assignments participate in this process which should help juniors find a senior campus service assignment they’re excited about. An overview of the process and the various positions can be found on the site. Please note that the SLCS process does not account for every senior campus service assignment. There are many opportunities for leadership in campus service to consider. Juniors should reach out to any employees that they may be interested in working with next year.”

Residence Halls Closing & Opening:

“Just a quick reminder that the Residence Halls will be closing on Thursday, February 26th at 5:00pm. Halls will reopen on Sunday, March 1st at noon.

Students will submit an Overnight pass on Orah before or during our hall meeting right before the Extended Weekend. On this Orah pass, they indicate where they are going for the break, who they are traveling with, and how they are getting to their destination. If students have specific questions about checkout procedures for the Extended Weekend, they should speak to me.”

January

January Term:

January Term (J-Term) is a special session during which NCSSM provides significant opportunities for students to engage in unique educational experiences. These experiences include both regular coursework, offered in a different format, and unique learning opportunities beyond the standard curriculum, both in and out of the traditional classroom context. J-Term aims to engage students in a rigorous exploration of a subject area of great interest in a way that contributes to their academic and personal growth and serves them well in their future academic aspirations. J-Term also provides an opportunity for students to interact with their peers from our Morganton campus; some Morganton students will be visiting Durham for their classes, and vice-versa. J-Term travel courses also include students from both campuses.

MLK Jr. Day of Service:

On Monday, January 19th, NCSSM will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy by having a day dedicated to community service, education, and unity. The day is considered part of the academic calendar and the expectation is that students participate fully in the day’s activities and events.

Residence Halls Closing & Opening:

Just a quick reminder that the Residence Halls will be closing on Thursday, January 29th at 5:00pm. Halls will reopen on Sunday, February 1st at noon.

December

January Term:

Throughout January of each year, students take a break from regular coursework during J-Term to engage in employee-led educational opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. Examples of past J-Term experiences include Capes and Culture, Introduction to Aviation, the Science of Breadmaking, Fantastic Fungi, and extended travel to Costa Rica or the American West. J-Term begins on January 7th and ends on January 29th. You can view your student’s assigned J-Term class or classes on Blackbaud.

January Term (J-Term) is an essential part of the NCSSM Academic Program. Since class meeting patterns are different during J-Term, attendance is calculated differently. One unexcused hour of missed class will be recorded as one unexcused absence. J-Term is considered its own term for attendance purposes. The number of accumulated absences reverts to zero at the beginning of spring semester.

One last reminder about SAB Winter Semi-Formal:

Semi-Formal, NCSSM’s annual winter dance, is Saturday, December 6th from 8:30 – 10:55 PM in the PEC Gymnasium. This year’s theme is Coral Cove! All students are invited to take a trip under the sea with us and enjoy the evening with friends and hallmates. There will be festive decorations, music, snacks, and dancing!

Students planning to attend are encouraged to bring semi-formal dress clothes back to campus after the break. Appropriate attire includes a dressy skirt, shirt and tie (jacket optional), dress pants, a dress, and dress shoes.

Families, if you are interested in volunteering at or donating to semi-formal, view the opportunities and sign up here!

Winter Break:

Can you believe that we have reached the halfway point for the year? With winter break beginning Friday, December 12th I wanted to provide a breakdown of how students should prepare for these longer breaks. Residence Halls close on December 12th at 5:00pm. Halls will reopen on Tuesday, January 6th at noon. Some students may leave earlier than the 12th if they are done with exams. Because this is a very long break we require that students unplug all items in their room, including fridges and fish tanks. During room inspections this week I will check that students have properly defrosted their fridges, so that we can avoid any puddles or mold growth over the break. Students should also make sure to take home any open food packages due to the long break. Signing out for this break is handled similarly to an extended weekend.

Students will submit an Overnight pass on Orah before or during our hall meeting right before Winter Break. On this Orah pass, they indicate where they are going for the break, who they are traveling with, and how they are getting to their destination. If students have specific questions about checkout procedures for Winter Break, they should speak to me. This is similar to our last extended weekend.

November

Progress Reports:

“Don’t forget that the second set of progress reports for your students will be released on November 7th. To view your student’s progress report you will need to log into blackbaud and select the “progress” tab. Then click where it says “report cards” to open all the progress reports for this year. Select either “Semester 1 - Durham” or “Semester 1 - Durham (no comments),” depending on whether you want to view grades and teacher feedback, or just grades.

If you have concerns about your student’s performance, please let me know. I always meet with students who have multiple Cs or a D to help develop a plan for improvement, but will be happy to meet with anyone if there are concerns. It is also important that your student reach out to their individual teachers, guidance counselor, and the Center for Advising and Academic Success for advice on how to improve. This is also a good time for students to evaluate whether they should be attending tutorials more often.”

Latin America Fest

“Something beautiful is in the air… Latin America Fest is taking flight on November 15th from 7:00 - 8:30pm in the ETC Auditorium. Spread your wings and immerse yourself in the beauty of Latin American culture through dance, spoken word, musical performances, and more! Grab your binoculars, cameras, and favorite flower to experience a night of color, rhythm, and celebration because this is one migration you won’t want to miss!

All are welcome to attend the event, but due to limited seating, audience members must RSVP HERE to reserve their seat. Please be prepared to show your email confirmation at the door.”

SAB Winter Semi-Formal:

“Semi-Formal, NCSSM’s annual winter dance, is Saturday, December 6th from 8:30 – 10:55 PM in the PEC Gymnasium. All students are invited to enjoy the evening with friends and hallmates! There will be festive decorations, music, snacks, and dancing!

In keeping with tradition, several opportunities will be available for parents and families to be involved with Semi again this year. More information about how to provide support will be shared in the coming weeks.”

Residence Halls Closing & Opening:

“Just a quick reminder that there are several extended breaks scheduled over the next couple of months. In each instance, halls will close at 5pm on the closure date and reopen at noon on the opening date:

Closed Friday, November 21st - Sunday, November 30th
Closed Friday, December 12th - Tuesday, January 6th

For the Thanksgiving and Winter breaks we ask that students unplug all items in the room. This includes fridges and fish tanks. Students should defrost their fridges completely and clean out excess water before they leave for the break. They should also make sure that they take any houseplants or fish home.

CCs will confirm that all students have submitted an Orah pass at their weekly hall meeting. On this pass, students should indicate where they are going for the break, who they are traveling with, and how they are getting to their location.”

OCTOBER

SAB Intro:

As students adjust to the academic rigor of NCSSM it is also important for them to make time to have fun, relax, and enjoy all parts of the Science and Math experience. To that end, it is important that you and they know about the NCSSM Student Activities Board and all the amazing opportunities that it offers students.

SAB is made up of student and employee volunteers from across campus. Under the supervision of Kori Willoughby, the Assistant Director for Prevention Education/Training and Student Activities, SAB meets every other Thursday throughout the year to plan activities and events for the student body. Meetings are open to all students.

Some popular SAB events, outside of major campus-wide events like Welcome Week, the Halloween Dance & Costume Contest, Winter Semi-Formal Dance, Prom, and End-of-Year Celebrations, include:

Friday Fun Day activities like grocery bingo and giant Twister
Thursday Night Trivia in the Courtyard
Weekend Movie Nights outdoors and in the Lecture Hall
Food Runs, Loops, and Sunday study breaks
Block Parties on Hill Street

You can find out more about SAB and see upcoming events on their website.

PSAT:
“NCSSM will be administering the PSAT to the entire junior class on Wednesday, Oct. 22nd. You do not need to do anything to register nor do you need to make a payment as that was part of the security deposit. If you think your student might qualify for a fee waiver, please email financial.assistance@ncssm.edu to get the information you need ASAP. Students may access the PSAT student guide electronically. If students would like to prepare further for this exam, they can do some practice problems through Khan Academy.

In preparation for Wednesday’s PSAT administration, we will follow a Wednesday Lab schedule during the day on Monday, Oct. 20th. All juniors will take the PSAT in the morning on Wednesday; we will then follow an abbreviated Monday schedule that afternoon. Evening classes and Online webinars will meet on their normal Monday schedule.”

1:1s:

“Over the next few weeks your students will be receiving emails from me to schedule 1-on-1 meetings. These meetings give me a chance to get to know your students better, respond to any issues they are having on hall or campus, get ideas about things they would like to see on hall, and just generally check in on how they are enjoying their time at NCSSM. 1:1s typically last between 20 and 30 minutes. We will have these meetings every semester.”

Progress Reports:

“As October draws to a close, faculty across campus will be completing grading assignments so that we can release second progress reports for your students on November 7th. To view your student’s progress report you will need to log into Blackbaud and select the “progress” tab. Then click where it says “report cards” to open all the progress reports for this year. Select either “Semester 1 - Durham” or “Semester 1 - Durham (no comments),” depending on whether you want to view grades and teacher feedback, or just grades.

Residence Halls Closing & Opening:

“Just a quick reminder that the Residence Halls will be closing once before our next update:

Closed Friday, September 26th at 5:00pm. Opens Sunday, October 5th at noon.
Closed Friday, October 31st at 5:00pm. Opens Monday, November 3rd at noon.

September

Family Day Preview:

Each September, NCSSM invites families to campus for a fun and informative Family Day! On Saturday, September 13th, 2025, experience a ‘day in the life’ of your student as you walk through a condensed version of their schedule. You’ll envision the excitement of learning as you have the opportunity to meet your student’s instructors, counselors, and other key campus members, all while exploring NCSSM’s interactive classrooms and innovative learning spaces.

A detailed agenda for Family Day can be found here. In addition to meeting your student’s teachers, you’ll have a chance to connect with other NCSSM parents at the Parent Association hospitality table and visit the school store, where you can snag some merchandise to show your school spirit!

Registration is required. Please complete this registration form as soon as possible, but no later than Wednesday, September 10th to RSVP for your Family Day plans.

College Fair Preview:

This year, NCSSM Morganton will host our annual College Fair on Friday, September 12th at the end of the academic day. While the Fair will be on Morganton’s campus, NCSSM Durham will still have amazing opportunities for juniors and seniors to learn more about colleges across the country and explore what school might be right for them. These opportunities include virtual information sessions, webinars, panel presentations, and visits from college representatives.

In the past representatives from more than 70 schools from around the country have been available to talk with students and families about their schools, the college admissions process, financial aid, and scholarships. More information about the virtual information sessions, webinars, panel presentations, and college representative visits will be shared in the coming weeks.

Increasing Workload:

Now that we have made it to the first extended weekend, students should be getting into the swing of things with classes and life at NCSSM. Around this time students will also notice their workload increasing. It is imperative for them to develop strong time management skills and learn to seek out help as they begin to face these new challenges. If needed, students can reach out to their CC and/or any of the following resources:

Center for Advising and Academic Success (CAAS): CAAS serves all residential and online students during their time here at NCSSM. The purpose and function of the Center is to provide individual, ongoing, and real-time academic support and guidance for all students. Some of the CAAS services include:
- providing guidance and advice for students on course choices and placement
- providing academic consultation for students
- developing and managing academic support plans
- communicating directly with student support teams
- communicating/collaborating with Counseling on academic support
- providing administrative support for Enrollment Services/Registrar

Tutorials: Most classes and departments offer formal tutorials for students. These tutorial sessions are led by both faculty and student TAs. Tutorial sessions or resources can be found on each department’s website:
Residential Education Courses: All juniors take RE102; in this course they learn about academic success strategies. The skills they develop and the resources provided by their instructor will be helpful to revisit as their workload increases.

Progress Reports

As September draws to a close, faculty across campus will be completing grading assignments to release progress reports for students on September 19. To view student progress reports, families will need to log into Blackbaud and select the “progress” tab. Families will then click “report cards” to open all the progress reports for the year and select either “Semester 1 - Durham” or “Semester 1 - Durham (no comments),” depending on whether they want to view grades and teacher feedback, or just grades.

If families have concerns about their student’s performance, then please reach out to their student’s CC. CCs always meet with students who have multiple Cs or a D to help develop a plan for improvement, but will be happy to meet with anyone if there are concerns. It is also important that students reach out to their individual teachers, counselor, and the Center for Advising and Academic Success for advice on how to improve. This is also a good time for students to evaluate whether they should be attending tutorials more often.

Roommate Agreements

Now that students have spent a few weeks on campus and have a better sense of what the ideal living space looks like for them, it is time to complete roommate agreements! Students should review the Living with a Roommate and the Roommate Conflict Resolution flyers on hall for tips on fostering a positive and healthy roommate relationship and to learn what steps to take to address conflict.

All doubles and triples must submit a roommate agreement by September 15. Only one individual from the room should submit a form, but EVERYONE should be involved in creating the roommate agreement. Students in single rooms do not have to complete a roommate agreement. Once the form is submitted each roommate and the CC will receive a copy. Please note that students can revisit the roommate agreement at any time and make changes, as needed.

As students complete their roommate agreement, they should keep in mind that communication is the single most important factor in building good relationships. By working with each other, the roommate agreement will help roommates begin the process of discussing issues that have often been found to be sources of conflict. Students should be honest with themselves and their roommate(s) now, so that issues can be addressed before they arise. Students should also enter the discussion with an open mind and be prepared to compromise whenever reasonable.

Roommate agreement forms can be found HERE.

Residence Halls Closing & Opening:

Just a quick reminder that the Residence Halls will be closing twice during the next month:

Closed Friday, August 29th at 5:00pm. Opens Monday, September 1st at noon.
Closed Friday, September 26th at 5:00pm. Opens Sunday, October 5th at noon.

CCs and Campus Safety Staff On-Call

CCs are available 24 hours a day to assist your students. The Bryan CC desk is staffed each day from 7:30am to 1:00am. All other CC building offices are staffed beginning at 6:30pm each day. Outside of these hours there will always be 2 CCs on call while students are on campus. The contact numbers for the on-call CCs are posted at each CC desk and can be viewed here. If your student has an emergency they are encouraged to reach out to the on duty CCs.

NCSSM also has Campus Safety Officers available 24 hours. They can be contacted at 919-416-2911.

The Clinic

Student Health Services, often referred to as the Clinic, is located on the first floor of the Hunt Residence Hall. The Clinic is staffed by a nurse, medical assistant, and a family nurse practitioner. Our medical director oversees the Clinic’s daily operation and is present in the Clinic one day a week. The Clinic is staffed and equipped to manage most acute and chronic illnesses that occur while students reside at NCSSM. Common over-the-counter medications, bandages, splints, and crutches are dispensed at no additional charge to students. Prescriptions, if required, can be picked up from a local pharmacy. Some problems may require additional care, in which case students are referred to area professionals. Families will be notified if this referral is necessary.

Students are prohibited from keeping certain types of prescription medications in their rooms (e.g., narcotics, psychotropics, stimulants). These medications must be retained and distributed by the Clinic. Students may keep over-the-counter medications in their rooms for their personal use (e.g., pain relievers, cold medications, stomach remedies, herbal remedies, vitamins, etc.).

The clinic is open Monday - Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm. After hours and on the weekends students can reach out to CCs on duty for help; the CCs will contact a 24 hour telephone nursing service called UNC Nurse Connect to seek advice on how to aid your student.

Students may schedule telehealth appointments and in-person appointments, as well as medication drop-off/pick-up appointments. The Clinic is not open to drop-in appointments as it has been in the past.

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