46 days (maybe 45 when you read this) until commencement! I know the seniors are counting down and are eager to graduate, but I hope they don't let these final days pass them by without truly taking it all in. At times, 2 years at NCSSM can seem like it has taken forever and flown by all at the same time. I'll offer one piece of advice for seniors...... 1) Enjoy every minute. Yes, do your work, don't get in trouble, make good decisions, but enjoy it. I've heard from seniors in the past who wish they had taken time with friends and their hall before the end. Everyone will go different ways and while you will keep in touch with many, it won't be quite the same again. So enjoy it.  (Juniors - enjoy your seniors while you can. Enjoy them not only as hallmates and friends, but also take a moment to learn from them. They've lived senior year, what would they do differently, what did they learn from this year? Maybe you'll get a nugget from someone that will help you next year!) 

And my advice for everyone... TAKE STUFF HOME! Now is the time to start moving items out. Parents, if you come to Durham make your student pack a box to take home. I promise, more is here now than you dropped off! The more you can take home before the end of the year, the easier it will be for everyone. Can't get here until the extended? No problem - make them pack up as much as they can. I'm sure there is PLENTY they will not touch by the end of the year that can go ahead and go. I promise, you'll be much happier moving out if you do!

• NCSSM Prom 2026:

On Saturday, April 11th, NCSSM’s 2026 Prom “Unis in Wonderland” will take place in the Museum of Life and Science. Most students at NCSSM attend prom, as well as a number of students in the NCSSM Online program. Pre-sale tickets are $50 and may be purchased here until April 10th at 5:00pm, and day-of tickets will be $60 in exact change. Students may bring off-campus guests to prom as their date by purchasing a ticket in their name. If your student is planning to stay off campus on the night of Prom, please have them fill out an Overnight Orah pass request with exact details of their travel plans (including address, mode of transportation, and full name of their host) by midnight on April 6th. No concessions will be made if this date is missed. 

Students may request to bring their vehicle from home to campus for the day of Prom. Please visit the NCSSM Prom Website permissions tab to learn more about important dates and deadlines for Prom vehicle use, including the vehicle permission form. 

Parents! Parent volunteers can help with food prep, clean-up, decorating, ticket sales, coat check, and more, and are always essential for creating a beautiful Prom night. Sign up here if you’re interested in lending a helping hand!

For more information about our prom, check out the NCSSM Prom Website, and feel free to email prom@ncssm.edu with any questions.

• Residence Halls Closing & Opening:

Just a quick reminder that the Residence Halls will be closing on Thursday, April 30th at 5:00pm. Halls will reopen on Sunday, May 3rd at noon. Students will submit an Overnight pass on Orah before or during our hall meeting right before the Extended Weekend. On this Orah pass, they indicate where they are going for the break, who they are traveling with, and how they are getting to their destination. If students have specific questions about checkout procedures for the Extended Weekend, they should speak to me.

Remember, best practice is to start evaluating which items you may be able to take home over the extended weekend. The more items you can get home over our final extended weekends of the year, the easier move-out will be for you. Good items to consider taking home are winter coats and clothes, extra furniture, and large items.

• Senior Leadership Campus Service Update:

The Senior Leadership Campus Service process is coming to a close. Senior Leadership announcements will be sent out on Tuesday, April 21 at 4:00pm and applicants will have until Thursday, April 23 to submit their decisions to program coordinators. Please note that the SLSC process does not account for every senior campus service assignment. Juniors should reach out to any employees that they may be interested in working with next year if they chose not to participate in the SLCS process. They can also contact Justin Plummer (plummer@ncssm.edu), Campus Service Coordinator and Associate Director of Student Services, if they have any questions.

• Spring Final Assessment Schedule:

The Spring Final Assessment Schedule has been shared by Academic Programs.  Synchronous final assessment blocks are arranged to minimize conflicts (when students have two final assessments scheduled at the same time).  Academic Programs will work directly with students and instructors to resolve those conflicts in the weeks before the end of the semester.  As in previous semesters, Academic Programs have indicated deadlines for submitting projects, papers, and take-home exams by academic discipline to ensure that all asynchronous assessments are not due at the same time.