September Innovation Week

Innovation Week (or I-week, for short) was an idea that began last year as an experiment to attempt to stimulate more innovation and opportunities for the NCSSM community while at the same time reducing some of the stress that students are trying to deal with at about the mid-point of the trimester.  I-weeks, in effect, are weeks with altered schedules where on certain days of the week and at certain times, NCSSM students, staff members, and volunteers lead activities on and off campus ranging from Service in the Durham Community, to Exploring UNC's botanical gardens, to doing Web Development or learning about Constitution Day on campus.  I-week usually also has some special activities that students are required to attend, such as College information sessions brought to us by our counselors, the NCSSM Research Fair, and College Eve.  With so many opportunities crammed into one week, I-week is a great opportunity for a student or group of students to learn about something new and different, or participate in an activity or service that excites them.  Some students take the opportunity of I-week to catch up on some sleep or do some studying catch-up.  Seniors, too, utilized extra time to make progress on college applications and scholarship deadlines.  All together, I-week is a once-a-Trimester opportunity that many enjoy- for its unique opportunities and for a bit of a less-stressful week's workload, too!