Step Up to STEM provides students the chance to explore curriculum in ways not typically available to them during the standard school year. During the first summer of the week-long program, students will be engaged in an interdisciplinary STEM curriculum. During the second summer of the week-long program, students will participate in a research-focused course.
Enrichment activities outside of class time further develop students’ social and academic learning through on- and off- campus events and field trips. Past activities have included planetarium shows, hip hop writing workshops, attending baseball games, visits to labs, board game nights, sports, STEM career panels, ice cream socials, and tours of university campuses.
It was wonderful. I was able to learn, go to class, and have fun. That experience is the reason that I am more seriously considering a career that is focused on science and math. The classes provided allowed me to realize my love for math and helped me see how much fun science could be. That is why I want to continue to explore subjects that are related to science.”
—Step Up to STEM participant
A Typical Academic Day
Step Up to STEM participants receive one-on-one attention from instructors and staff. Session groups are comprised of 16 students or less with several counselors and instructors to provide personal attention to participants. A typical weekday looks like this:
Cohort 1 (Rising 9th Graders)
8:00 a.m.: Breakfast
9:00 a.m.: Session 1: Math
10:30 a.m.: Session 2: Engineering
12:00 p.m.: Lunch
1:00 pm.: Session 3: Science
2:30 p.m.: Enrichment activities
5:30 p.m.: Dinner
6:30 p.m.: Wellness/free time
7:00 p.m.: Enrichment and student life activities
9:30 p.m.: On hall check and meeting
10:00 p.m.: In-room curfew
Cohort 2 (Rising 10th Graders)
8:00 a.m.: Breakfast
9:00 a.m.: Research-Focused Course
10:30 a.m.: Research-Focused Course
12:00 p.m.: Lunch
1:00 p.m.: Research-Focused Course
2:30 p.m.: Enrichment activities
5:30 p.m.: Dinner
6:30 p.m.: Wellness/free time
7:00 p.m.: Enrichment and student life activities
9:30 p.m.: On hall check and meeting
10:00 p.m.: In-room curfew
Key Dates for Summer 2026:
- December 1, 2025: Application portal opens
- January 8, 2026: Step Up to STEM at ECSU Virtual Information Session (Registration is closed.)
- January 15, 2026: Step Up to STEM at UNC Pembroke Virtual Information Session (Registration is closed.)
- January 22, 2026: Step Up to STEM at NCSSM-Durham Virtual Information Session (Registration is closed.)
- February 5, 2026: Application portal closes
- March 11, 2026: Acceptance decisions emailed
- March 25, 2026: Deadline for acceptance contracts to be submitted
- June 14-19, 2026: Cohort 2 (NCSSM-Durham)
- July 5-10, 2026: Cohorts 1 and 2 (ECSU)
- July 12-17, 2026: Cohort 1 (NCSSM-Durham)
- July 19-24, 2026: Cohort 1 (UNC Pembroke)
Please note: Cohort 1 is ONLY for students applying to the program as current eighth graders. Cohort 2 is ONLY for students who participated the previous year as Cohort 1 students.
Step Up to STEM Virtual Information Sessions:
Step Up to STEM Virtual Information Sessions are free events, providing an overview of the program. Registration for all Step Up to STEM Virtual Information Sessions will open in November 2025.
- Step Up to STEM at ECSU Virtual Information Session: January 8, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST. (Registration is closed.)
- Step Up to STEM at UNC Pembroke Virtual Information Session: January 15, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST. (Registration is closed.)
- Step Up to STEM at NCSSM-Durham Virtual Information Session: January 22, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST. (Registration is closed.)
Step Up to STEM Virtual Office Hours:
Step Up to STEM Virtual Office hours consist of 15-minute time slots where parents, students, and/or educators may speak with Step Up to STEM staff members via Zoom to ask any questions that they may have about the Step Up to STEM application process. Virtual office hours dates/times for this application season are as follows:
- December 11, 2025: (4:30 pm – 6:30 pm)
- January 29, 2026: (4:30 pm – 6:30 pm)
To sign up for a virtual office hour time slot, please click here. Please note that sign-ups are on a first come, first serve basis.
Program Director, NCSSM-Durham
Program Director, ECSU
Program Director, UNCP
