Students, such as these at work at NCSSM-Morganton, say the academic experiences they get through the school during the summer are among the best they’ve ever had. (photo: Hollie Helms)
The academic year may be over, but learning never stops at NCSSM. Not long after the halls emptied of residential students, they start filling again with others from all over the state – and even the nation – who come to campus to engage in some of the best summer enrichment programming to be found in the entire country.
An NCSSM summer looks very much like the academic year; laughter and conversation and energy and enthusiasm fill nearly every space on campus. But just like during the year, there’s still some serious learning going on.
And it’s not just on campus where things will be busy. From the mountains to the coast to the southern coastal plain, NCSSM is working with regional partners to deliver programming in off-campus locations that offer opportunities unique to their area. Among NCSSM’s partners are Western Carolina University in the far western part of the state, Elizabeth City State University near the coast, and the University of North Carolina-Pembroke in the southeastern corner of North Carolina.
By summer’s end, NCSSM will have provided additional opportunities for growth to hundreds of students through dozens of courses and experiences offered through the school’s Academic Programs and Extended Learning offices located on NCSSM’s Durham and Morganton campuses. A number of the students on campus this summer will be current Residential students engaged in research and mentorship projects that either began during the just-completed academic year, or will extend into the upcoming academic year. Others will be incoming Residential students who are getting a head-start on making their NCSSM experience the best it can be. NCSSM Online students will get in on the action, too, sitting side-by-side with many of their Residential peers to further develop their academic and personal skills.
The bulk of summer students, however, will be students from other schools who, like NCSSM’s Residential and Online students, are eager to engage in experiences that will challenge, refine, and expand their understanding of the world, how it works, and their ability to contribute to it.
It’s all part of NCSSM’s greater mission to serve the state and nation and redefine what is possible in a public school setting, says Jamie Lathan, NCSSM’s Vice Chancellor for Extended Learning.
“Because we believe that learning is a year-round journey, we are grateful to provide students access to these NCSSM summer opportunities that are academically rigorous and hands-on,” Lathan says. “All of our summer programs engage students’ curiosity, build their confidence, and prepare them for the upcoming school year. Ultimately, we believe our summer programs – though they are brief – are helping to equip these young people to be leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers in their future careers and communities.”
Stay tuned to NCSSM’s news page and social media accounts for coverage of summer programming.
