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 → Semi Formal Volunteers

January Term (J-Term):

In 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.

Winter Break:

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 next 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. 

Progress Reports

Don't forget that the second set of progress reports for your students will be released on November 7. 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.

Latin America Fest: Vuelo Quebrado

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 - 10:55pm 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!

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.

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.

Student Activities Board (SAB)

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, October 22. Students do not need to do anything to register nor do they need to make a payment as that was part of the security deposit. If students believe that they may qualify for a fee waiver, then they should 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 the PSAT, they can do some practice problems through Khan Academy.

In preparation for Wednesday's PSAT administration, NCSSM will follow a Wednesday Lab schedule during the day on Monday, October 20. All juniors will take the PSAT in the morning on Wednesday and everyone will follow an abbreviated Monday schedule that afternoon. Evening classes and Online webinars will meet on their normal Monday schedule.

One on Ones

Over the next few weeks students will be receiving emails from their CC to schedule one on one meetings. These meetings will give CCs a chance to get to know their 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 or how they are enjoying their time at NCSSM. One on Ones typically last between 20 and 30 minutes. 

Progress Reports

As October draws to a close, faculty across campus will be completing grading assignments to release progress reports for students on November 7. 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.

Residence Halls Closing & Opening

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

• 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.

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.

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.

Family Day

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

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:

  • Engineering and Computer Science

  • Fine Arts

  • Mathematics

  • Science

  • Science Department Academic Assistance

• 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.

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 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.

CCs and Campus Safety 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 from 6:30pm to 1:00am each day. Outside of these hours there will always be two 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 a 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 or 919-416-2711.

Roommates

For many students their time at NCSSM will be the first time they have experienced sharing a room with someone. It is natural for there to be some growing pains as students adjust their habits and learn to live together. For this reason we encourage students to spend their first few weeks getting to know one another and discussing their sleep habits, study preferences, and what makes them feel comfortable in their shared space. After the first extended, roommates will work together to craft a roommate agreement; this agreement will outline how they will respect one another’s space, accommodate each other's sleep and study habits, what they can borrow and share with each other, and how they will keep their room clean. The agreement is a living document and can be revisited as needed throughout the year.

While we hope that all students will get along well, it is possible that your students develop a conflict with their roommate that they have trouble navigating on their own. If this occurs you or your student should let their CC know. We will work with the students to mediate the conflict and work towards a mutual resolution. It is imperative that you speak only to your student about any conflict they are having, do not contact the other student or their family. If the conflict continues the CC may ask that the students work with either the Assistant Director or Director of Housing and Residence Life to continue working towards a solution. NCSSM operates at full occupancy; therefore, room changes are not easy to accommodate. No room changes will be approved during the 1st quarter of the school year. Changing rooms is considered only if all conflict resolution options have been exhausted, a space is available, and the move is considered a positive step for all parties involved. For these reasons, a room change should not be viewed as a likely outcome to resolve a conflict.

First Extended Preparation

As students prepare for the first extended weekend it is important to understand that we use a special sign out for these weekends away from NCSSM:

• Halls close at 5pm on Friday, August 29th and reopen at noon on Monday, September 1st.

• 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. 

• If a student is not departing early, is not returning to campus late, is not taking a train or Greyhound bus home, and their final destination is home or they are being picked-up by a parent/guardian, they do not need to sign out at Bryan Desk (this only applies to extended weekends).

• If a student is departing before the day the Extended Weekend begins or returning to campus late they will need to have a parent/guardian sign them out at Bryan desk or submit an overnight pass on Orah and sign out at Bryan desk with whomever is picking them up. 

• If a student's final destination is not home and they are not being picked up by a parent/guardian, or if they are taking the train or Greyhound bus, they will need to submit an overnight pass on Orah and sign out at the Bryan desk.