Mentorship Program 

Mentorship Opportunities for 2025 will be announced Sunday, October 6, 2024!

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The deadline to apply for the Mentorship Program is Monday, November 4, 2024 at 11:59 PM (midnight).
Applications for Mentorship for the Class of 2026 open Thursday, October 24, 2024!

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

Apply to the Summer Research & Innovation (SRIP) and Mentorship Programs! 

Durham-Hosted SRIP/Mentorship Fair

Attend virtual drop-in interest meetings on Zoom to chat with instructors and past/currents students about their opportunities! 

Monday, October 7, 2024 (4:00 - 5:00 PM)

Morganton SRIP/Mentorship Fairs

Visit the NCSSM Morganton Fair (Google Site) to learn about offered opportunities! 

Monday, October 7, 2024 & Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Programs Available for Mentorship Program for the Class of 2026

Durham Mentorship  * Students apply to a program timeline and will be individually paired with mentors from the Triangle through a student-led mentor search process after program admittance
Morganton Mentorship  * Students choose and apply to specific program mentors of interest from Western North Carolina within each program timeline  
Announcing SRIP/Mentorship 2025 Presentation_Class of 2026

Link to Webinar Recording

Opportunities Catalog for Durham-hosted SRIP/Mentorship Programs (Class of 2026)
Durham Opportunity Catalog
NCSSM-MOR Mentorship & SRIP Catalog 25-26.pdf
Morganton Opportunity Catalog

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

Sunday, October 6, 2024 (7:00 - 8:00 PM)

Monday, October 7, 2024 (4:00 - 5:00 PM)

Monday, October 7/8, 2024

Thursday, October 24, 2024 (5:00 PM)

Monday, November 4, 2024 (11:59 PM, midnight)

Tuesday, December, 18, 2024 (5:00 PM)

Announcing SRIP/Mentorship Opportunities for 2025 (Recording will be emailed to all juniors and families)

Durham-Hosted SRIP/Mentorship Fair (Virtual)

Morganton-Hosted Mentorship Fair (Virtual Google Site)

*Application opens for SRIP/Mentorship (single application process for all SRIP/Mentorship)

*Application closes for SRIP/Mentorship (single application process for all SRIP/Mentorship)

Notifications of application status available to all SRIP/Mentorship applicants 

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

(5-7 weeks, with a break during 4th of July week:
June 9 - June 27; July 7 - 18)

Students work ~40 hours per weekWeekdays 8:00am to 4:00pm

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

(5-7 weeks with break during 4th of July week and academic year with break December - January)

Summer 2025 (M1) and Academic Year 2025-2026 (M2) timelines combined

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

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 MR3080 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 MR3080 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 required as well as travel off site and traveling time (which is outside of the course blocks), so students should consider the commitment when making decisions about participating in the program. 

The commitment to Mentorship takes priority over extracurricular activities including school-sponsored athletics practices and games, academic competitions, and doctor's appointments that could be scheduled for other dates/times.  

Mentorship should we viewed as a job and students are serving as an ambassador of NCSSM to the external partners who are volunteering to partner with NCSSM Mentorship Programs. 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?

Each campus offers a variety of partnering institutions and organizations based on the regional assets and the interest of volunteers in partnering and partners participating vary each year.  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, clinical/biomedical,, finance, computer science, and EMT certification.  

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. The Mentorship Program cannot provide transportation outside of these scheduled blocks,  If a unique circumstance or opportunity arises for a Mentorship student, transportation can be requested by contacting the Directors of Mentorship and Research (Dr. Shoemaker, Durham and Ms. Burkins, Morganton).

If I'm in other research/innovation opportunities, can I participate in Mentorship?

Students accepted to the SRIP/Mentorship will only be offered a single opportunity, so choose your rankings carefully.   

For example, if a student is accepted for their 1st choice, the student will not be considered for their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th ranked opportunities.  Students' preference of which opportunity they would most like to participate in is identified by their rank of each opportunity within their SRIP/Mentorship application.

Residential students are not eligible for SRIP/Mentorship if they are offered and accept positions in the departmental program RSci (including RBio, RChem, RCompSci, RPhys).  RSci and the Mentorship Programs overlap in F/G senior year and overlap in summer commitment.   Residential students in other departmental programs such as RHum and RMath and Applications in Entrepreneurship can apply to Mentorship, however the Mentorship Program may prioritize students that have not yet been served in research and innovation at NCSSM.


A primary goal of NCSSM research and innovation is to provide an opportunity for as many of our students as possible.  However, students are encouraged to apply to all opportunities they are interested in committing to since all opportunities are competitive and often have more applicants than student slots available.  


If students are accepted to or choosing to participate in multiple opportunities, it is strongly recommended that they reflect carefully and honestly about managing the commitment of taking on multiple research/innovation opportunities. Be honest with about whether you can give your best to more than one research/innovation opportunity