Mentorship Program 

Apply

The deadline to apply for the Mentorship Program was Wednesday, November 1, 2022 at 11:59 PM (midnight).
Applications for the Class of 2024 Mentorship are now closed. Information about the Class of 2025 coming soon!

About the Mentorship Program

The Mentorship Program is a 40+ year tradition and is recognized for its unique collaboration with over 200 volunteer mentors per year that provide project-based opportunities for students.  The program is designed for students with little or no previous experience and relies on NCSSM instructors to provide the support and instruction necessary for high school students to navigate the experience with confidence, professionalism, and self-reliance.

A key to the student experience is the engagement in a project under the guidance of a professional partnering with NCSSM Mentorship Programs. NCSSM Durham Mentorship partners primarily focus on academic research projects with mentors at Duke University, NC Central University, NC State University, RTI International, and UNC-Chapel Hill.  NCSSM Morganton partners include research and problem-based experience with industry partners and community partners, as well as nationally recognized certification programs (i.e., EMT, FAA drone flight).

Students will develop skills such as how to read publications/literature, keep records of their daily activities, and demonstrate their learning and the impact of their work through presentations and written communication to a variety of audiences from experts in the field to the community at NCSSM (i.e. a 10-minute oral presentation, a poster presentation, and/or an elevator pitch and mini-grant proposal).

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Full dedication and engagement in the mentor-led project and instructor-led course components are integral to participation in the Mentorship Program. 

Durham Campus

Partnering with research scholars and
professionals at research universities,
companies, and nonprofit agencies in
RTP and the Triangle

Morganton Campus

Partnering with research scholars and
professionals at research universities,
companies, and nonprofit agencies in
Western North Carolina

The many benefits of the Mentorship for students include development of curiosity, resourcefulness, response to failure, responsibility, professional communication skills, critical reading and analysis, collaborative skills, and a realistic view of experts in their field of interest and what it takes to be a professional in a variety of careers. Students are also able to foster strong relationships within the Mentorship community as well as with the professionals and their team who mentor and guide them throughout their experience. 

Contact: Directors of Mentorship and Research

Collaboration Between NCSSM and the Community

Mentor

Guides research and supports student growth

Student

Takes ownership of the experience

Instructor

Facilitates student development

NCSSM

Provides funding and programmatic support

Important Dates for Students

Monday, September 18, 2022 (3:45-5:00 PM)

Wednesday, September 20, 2022 (4:00-5:00 PM)

September 20 - 27, 2022

Sunday, October 16, 2022 (7:00-8:00 PM)

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Second Week of December 2022

Required Junior Meeting for Research & Innovation (Durham: PEC Gym, Morganton: Barn)

Research & Innovation Fair (Durham: PEC Gym, Morganton: Academic Commons Library)

Faculty-hosted Mentorship Interest Meetings

Applying to SRIP/Mentorship Opportunities at NCSSM webinar 

*Mentorship Student Application Opens

*Mentorship Student Application Closes

Mentorship Acceptance Notifications Sent to Students 

Program Commitment

As part of Summer Mentorship (M1/M3) commitment, students must attend all dates of this program within SRIP and live on campus. No exceptions for absences will be made for any reason (including academic competitions, family vacations, school sponsored events, summer service etc.). 

As part of the Academic Year Mentorship (M2/M3), students must prioritize and fully commit to the protected and required Mentorship working and travel time from 12:40-5:30PM on Tuesdays/Thursdays for the Senior Mentorship core course (which includes blocks G2L/G2/F2/F4L/F4/G4, flexible use time T/R and one additional block for a class meeting each week). This includes prioritizing the Mentorship Program over athletics and other extracurricular activities on Tuesday/Thursday afternoons from 12:40-5:30PM

Program Timelines

The Mentorship Program is comprised of three different timelines: Mentorship 1, 2, and 3.

   

Mentorship 1 (M1) -
Summer

Available for all residential and online
students!

Early June - Late July

(with a break during 4th of July week)

Students work ~40 hours per weekWeekdays 8:00am to 4:00pm
or according to the professional partner

Mentorship 2 (M2) -
Academic Year 

Available for residential students at their
respective campus!

August - March 

(with a break from December - January) 

Students work 6 hours per weekTuesday/Thursdays (1:00-4:00PM)

Mentorship 3 (M3) -
Extended 

Available for residential students at their
respective campus!

Early June - Late July & August - March

(with a break during 4th of July week, December - January)

Summer 2023 (M1) and Academic Year 2023-2024 (M2) timelines combined

Course Enrollment

All accepted Mentorship juniors will automatically be enrolled in MR3080 Mentorship: Foundations in Research elective course required 2nd semester and offered virtually (multiple evening class sections, times/dates vary each year) to prepare students for engaging in an experience with an off-campus volunteer mentor.  Students must successfully complete the MR3080 course and consistently meet all program criteria in order to begin and continue participation in the Summer Mentorship Program within SRIP and/or the Senior Mentorship Program through MR4050 and MR4051 Mentorship: Senior Research in the academic year which require the following commitments.

Course Descriptions

MR3080 Mentorship: Foundations in Research

Prerequisite(s): No prerequisite courses required, however, students must apply, be accepted, and fully commit to the Mentorship Program. This course is required for juniors selected to the NCSSM Mentorship program via application reviewed by Director of Mentorship and Research and committee. The successful completion of this course with a minimum of a B is required to be accepted to continue the NCSSM Mentorship experience in the summer for Mentorship 1 students, in academic year for Mentorship 2 students, and summer/academic year for Mentorship 3 students.

Corequisite(s): None

Graduation Requirements Met: One elective credit

Schedule Requirements Met: One of five courses required each semester

Meeting Times: One period per week

Foundations in Mentorship is a required course for NCSSM junior online and residential students selected for NCSSM Mentorship Program to prepare students to engage in their Mentorship experience with an off-campus mentor in the upcoming summer and/or academic year. This course equips students with research skills to be a proactive participant in an ongoing or independent research and the personal success skills necessary for the social and communication dynamics in a professional environment. Students will identify their strengths and weaknesses, implement tools for developing and evaluating goals, , and develop critical thinking skills as they apply techniques to acquire, read, understand, and synthesize primary research or professional literature or sources as well as engage in small group interactions to discuss peer reviewed research articles. As part of this course, students will begin a portfolio of materials demonstrating their growth and skill development, including a set of readings that relate to their research and a record of their reflection and activities throughout the journey. In addition, students will complete all necessary tasks to identify and secure a mentor for the student’s upcoming research experience and to be in compliance for their off-campus Mentorship experience.

MR4050 Mentorship: Senior Research I

Prerequisite(s): Requires acceptance to the NCSSM Mentorship 2 or Mentorship 3 program via application reviewed by the Director of Mentorship and Research and committee and successful completion of IE308 Mentorship Explorations with a grade of B or higher and an approved and committed mentor for the Mentorship experience (unless approved by the Director of Mentorship and Research).

Corequisite(s): None

Graduation Requirements Met: One elective credit

Schedule Requirements Met: One of five courses required each semester

Meeting Times: Three periods per week and two labs

Mentorship: Senior Research is a course required for students in Mentorship 2 and Mentorship 3 Programs. This course gives students ownership of their Mentorship opportunity by facilitating students’ professional and personal skills including reflecting on and achieving personal goals, crafting and delivering an effective message, and successfully engaging in a research project. Students will continue to investigate their curiosity and interests by making foundational connections between primary research or professional literature or sources and their own project. As part of this course, students will spend two afternoons per week engaging in their Mentorship experience with an off-campus mentor. A necessary part of that experience includes continuing to build their portfolio of materials demonstrating their growth and skill development, including a set of readings that relate to their particular area of Mentorship interest, a research proposal, a final professional product to communicate their findings, and a record of their reflection and activities throughout the journey. In addition, all students will be required to craft and deliver an oral presentation of their findings to a broad audience at the NCSSM Research Symposium community-wide event in the spring.

MR4051 Mentorship: Senior Research II

Prerequisite(s): Requires acceptance to the NCSSM Mentorship 2 or Mentorship 3 program via application reviewed by the Director of Mentorship and Research and committee and successful completion of IE308 Mentorship Explorations with a grade of B or higher and an approved and committed mentor for the Mentorship experience (unless approved by the Director of Mentorship and Research).

Corequisite(s): None

Graduation Requirements Met: One elective credit

Schedule Requirements Met: One of five courses required each semester

Meeting Times: Three periods per week and two labs

Mentorship: Senior Research is a course required for students in Mentorship 2 and Mentorship 3 Programs. This course gives students ownership of their Mentorship opportunity by facilitating students’ professional and personal skills including reflecting on and achieving personal goals, crafting and delivering an effective message, and successfully engaging in a research project. Students will continue to investigate their curiosity and interests by making foundational connections between primary research or professional literature or sources and their own project. As part of this course, students will spend two afternoons per week engaging in their Mentorship experience with an off-campus mentor. A necessary part of that experience includes continuing to build their portfolio of materials demonstrating their growth and skill development, including a set of readings that relate to their particular area of Mentorship interest, a research proposal, a final professional product to communicate their findings, and a record of their reflection and activities throughout the journey. In addition, all students will be required to craft and deliver an oral presentation of their findings to a broad audience at the NCSSM Research Symposium community-wide event in the spring.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the time commitment like?

All Mentorship courses are added as an additional core course (core elective), so students should consider the overload when making decisions about participating in the program. Students also travel off-campus during their scheduled Mentorhip hours. The commitment to Mentorship does take priority over other extracurrciular activities including athletics practices, games and extracurriculars.  Mentorship should we viewed as a job. If you wish to participate in research, but cannot make a commitment to Mentorship, please consider applying for the Summer Research & Innovation Program or registering for a REX course or a research-based J-term in your area of interest. 

What is the disciplinary scope?

Students have worked in an extremely wide range of disciplines. Some fields explored by students include art history, marine biology, law, philosophy, marketing, engineering, astrophysics, psychology, pediatrics, and computer science. 

Is transportation provided?

Transportation is provided during scheduled Mentorship times of 8:00-5:00 Monday through Friday during the summer and 12:30-4:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the academic year. Transportation outside these hours will need to be coordinated on a case-by-case basis with the Director of Mentorship & Research and Director Student Life and may not be available or possible. 

If I'm in an R program, can I participate in Mentorship?

Only students in RHum and RMath can participate in both their R program and Mentorship.