NCSSM Summer Research Mentorship at UNC Charlotte

Program Overview

Welcome to the Summer 2026 Research Mentorship Program! This exciting 5½-week residential program is a collaborative educational initiative between the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte). Selected NCSSM students will live on the UNC Charlotte campus and engage in hands-on, cutting-edge research projects directly alongside faculty from the College of Computing and Informatics (CCI).

Important Dates & Schedule

  • Program Duration: June 8, 2026 – July 17, 2026 (Note: Housing check-in begins the evening of June 7).
  • Mid-Program Break: There is a scheduled one-week break from June 27 to July 5, 2026.
  • Daily Schedule Structure:
    • 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Breakfast
    • 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM: Onsite research with Mentors in UNC Charlotte spaces and labs
    • 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Dinner
    • 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Staff-coordinated activities
    • 10:00 PM: Nightly in-building curfew

Housing & Campus Life

Residential Accommodations

  • Location: Scott Hall, UNC Charlotte.
  • Capacity: The program accommodates 8 student residents and 2 authorized adult/faculty chaperones.
  • Check-In: Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM at the Wilson Hall 24-hour satellite Housing Desk.
  • Check-Out: Friday, July 17, 2026, from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM in the Scott Hall Lobby.
  • Linens: Participants must provide their own bed linens.

Dining & Meals

  • Dinner: Provided daily by Campus Dining via a university meal card.
  • Breakfast & Lunch: Participants are independently responsible for their own breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Students can check out campus retail dining hours and options online.

Transportation & Parking

  • Program Transportation: NCSSM is responsible for all program-related transportation. UNC Charlotte vehicles are not available for use.
  • Campus Shuttles & Light Rail: Participants enjoy free access to campus shuttles, but standard charges apply for using the CATS light rail.
  • Vehicle Parking: Anyone bringing a personal vehicle to campus Monday through Friday must register online via the MyPark website to secure a virtual parking permit for their assigned residential/commuter lot (Lot 8). Virtual permits are restricted to their assigned lots and are not valid in visitor decks or metered spaces.
  • Driving: No UNC Charlotte staff, employees, or students are permitted to drive NCSSM students.

Student Expectations & Policies

Care and Control: This program is an official educational activity of NCSSM. Students remain under the care, custody, and control of NCSSM staff at all times and must strictly adhere to the NCSSM Student Handbook and Code of Conduct.

  • Youth Protection: The program strictly complies with UNC Charlotte’s Youth Protection Policy (University Policy 716) to ensure a safe and secure environment for minor-aged participants.
  • Academic Space Care: Research classrooms and labs must be kept clean. Food, beverages, and trash are strictly prohibited in the academic classrooms, and spaces must be left in their original layout.
  • Keys and Access Cards: Access cards and room keys are issued at check-in. Lost cards or unreturned keys at checkout will result in replacement fees charged to the program.
  • Inclement Weather: In the event of extreme weather, participants should check the UNC Charlotte website or call the Inclement Weather Hotline at 704-687-1900 for campus operational delays or closures.