Program FAQs

We’ve put together a STEP Participant Packing Checklist (you will also receive a printable version via email) to help you prepare, so be sure to review it carefully. You should also bring anything that will help you feel comfortable during your time on campus.

Keep in mind that NC State is a large campus, and we do a lot of walking throughout the program, so comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and shoes are essential. You’ll also participate in a variety of activities, some of which require different attire.

Important note: The Polymer Chemistry and Textile Engineering and Technology groups have specific lab safety dress codes, so please check the checklist for those details if you’re in one of those groups.

While it’s not required, we do encourage participants to bring some spending money if they’d like. Many participants enjoy visiting Wolfpack Outfitters, grabbing a treat from one of the restaurants in Talley Student Union or stopping by one of the campus coffee shops during their free time.

Please note that NC State is a cashless campus, so we recommend bringing a debit or credit card. Most campus locations also accept digital wallet payments like Apple Pay or Google Pay.

All lunches and dinners are covered as part of the STEP program. Participants should plan to bring their own breakfast items and are welcome to bring snacks as well. While we do provide some snacks during the program, having personal favorites on hand is always a good idea. Each participant will have access to a microwave in the residence hall and a micro-fridge in their room for storing and heating food.

Program-Provided Meals

Catered Meals:

• Sunday dinner
• Monday lunch
• Thursday dinner
• Friday lunch

(Catering is rotated weekly and comes from a variety of chain restaurants around the Triangle.)

Dining Hall Meals:

All other program meals take place at Clark Dining Hall or On the Oval Food Hall.

Before the program, each participant will receive a dietary needs form to indicate any food allergies, dietary restrictions or personal/religious preferences. We use this information when arranging catered meals.

NC State Dining also posts menus online five days in advance. If participants have concerns, we encourage them to visit the dining websites (linked above), where they can filter meals by dietary preferences and allergens to see what options are available to them.

In extenuating circumstances, participants may be permitted to drive themselves to STEP, but this is not encouraged. If a participant is approved to bring a car, the vehicle must remain parked for the entire duration of the program. Driving at any point during STEP is strictly prohibited and considered a violation of our safety policy, which may result in dismissal from the program.

Approval to bring a vehicle must be requested at least one week before the program begins and must come from the participant’s parent or legal guardian. To request approval, please email us at tex-summer-programs@ncsu.edu.

Please also note that participants who bring a car are responsible for purchasing a daily campus parking pass.

During STEP, we’ll frequently travel between NC State’s Main and Centennial campuses, and we’ll also take at least one off-campus field trip. (Brand Management project groups may have one additional off-campus trip as part of their group work.)

All transportation will be provided using NC State vehicles, typically 15-passenger vans or minivans. These will be driven by trained STEP staff, including camp counselors, the program director, and program coordinators. Every staff member who drives will complete a university-required driver training and pass an additional driving check before STEP begins.

When accompanied by a STEP staff member, participants may also utilize the Wolfline.

Sunday (Check-In):

Check-in will take place at Welch Hall (80 Pullen Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607), where participants will stay during STEP. Please follow the STEP directional signs upon arrival to locate the drop-off point. Participants should unload their luggage while parents/guardians park in the Coliseum Parking Deck. From there, parents will walk back to Welch Hall using the tunnel outlined on the map (signage will be provided).

Check-in ends at 4 p.m., after which parents/guardians are expected to transport their participant to the Textiles Complex on NC State’s Centennial Campus (1020 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606). Follow STEP signs to the Monteith Engineering Research Center (MRC) Deck for parking. From there, take the elevator or stairs to the Textiles Complex, where counselors and signs will direct you to the Convocation Center (TEX 2225).

Friday (Check-Out):

Check-out will follow a similar process. Participants will already be at the Textiles Complex finishing group activities while parents/guardians retrieve their belongings from Welch Hall and move them to their vehicles. Follow the same directional signage for parking and navigation. A parking pass is required on Friday. A member of our STEP staff will contact the legal parent or guardian listed on the participant’s application with detailed instructions on how to claim a parking pass. You can also refer to the following question about parking for more details.

Parking on NC State’s campus is free after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends. For Sunday check-in, no parking permit is needed, but the transportation office recommends parking in the Coliseum Parking Deck for easy access to the residence hall. Once check-in concludes, the parent or guardian is expected to transport their participant to the Wilson College of Textiles (1020 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27606) on NC State’s Centennial Campus for the required orientation. For this, the transportation office recommends parking in the Monteith Engineering Research Center (MRC) Deck.

Friday is a weekday, so a valid parking permit will be required. A member of our STEP staff will contact the legal parent or guardian listed on the participant’s application with detailed instructions on how to claim a parking pass.

Please note that NC State’s parking permits are virtual and linked to your license plate. When you receive the email with parking instructions, be sure to have your vehicle’s make, model, year and license plate number on hand to successfully claim your virtual pass. Passes are $10 per day.

Also, backing into parking spaces is not allowed unless your vehicle has a front license plate.

Each permit is valid for one vehicle only. If you’re traveling to campus on Friday in more than one vehicle, you’ll need to claim a separate pass for each.

Be sure to read the email carefully and follow all instructions to avoid receiving a parking citation.

You will receive a printed schedule at orientation. Here is an online version!

Each week of STEP features a unique field trip experience. Our goal is for participants to leave the program with a broader understanding of not just their specific project group but also the textile industry as a whole.

North Carolina is home to many incredible textile-related sites, and while we can’t visit them all, we carefully choose locations that offer meaningful, real-world insight. Past trips have included textile manufacturing plants, distribution centers, local boutiques, safety science labs and research and marketing companies in the textile space.

At each field trip location, STEP participants will have the chance to interact with industry professionals, tour the facilities and learn about the different facets of the textile industry as it relates to each specific location. Oftentimes, our field trips allow us to connect with our very own Wilson College alumni, which is always an added bonus!

Field trips take place on Thursday mornings and are typically to locations within a reasonable distance from NC State’s campus, ensuring a smooth and enriching experience for all participants.

Our STEP counselors manage and supervise all free time activities. These activities may include outdoor games, movie nights, crafts, board games, trips to Talley Student Union and more.

We’re often asked if participants can go for a run, use the WellRec facilities or explore campus on their own during free time. Due to NC State’s minors compliance policies, the answer is no. Participants must remain under STEP staff supervision at all times and cannot participate in individual activities or enter campus spaces that do not permit unaccompanied minors.

We’ll go over all of this in more detail during the required orientation on Sunday evening at the start of STEP.

We’re so glad you asked! Participant safety is at the core of every decision we make when planning STEP. While we recognize that our participants are rising high school seniors and may be used to some independence, they are still minors, and we take their care and supervision very seriously.

Our program policies and procedures are guided by NC State University’s Youth Programs and Minors Compliance Office, and we follow all standards outlined in the Minors Regulation: REG 01.25.18.

Here are some steps we take to ensure participant safety:

• All STEP staff and project group leaders undergo a background check, a minors compliance check and complete a required minors compliance training course.
• Staff who are responsible for driving also undergo a driving check.
• Every STEP staff member is CPR and first aid certified, and several have also completed Basic Life Support (BLS) training.
• On Sunday after check-in, all participants and the legal parent or guardian listed on their application are required to attend our STEP introduction and orientation.

During orientation, we’ll review minors compliance as it pertains to STEP and walk through our participant code of conduct, which all participants must sign. This code emphasizes behaviors that support the safety, protection and mutual respect of everyone in the program.

If you’d like to learn more about NC State’s regulations for programs involving youth, we encourage you to visit the Youth Programs and Compliance website.

During programming and project group time, participants are expected to silence their phones and avoid using them out of respect for presenters and group members. During meals and downtime, participants may use their phones, though we encourage limited use to help them stay engaged with their peers. In case of an emergency, parents should be able to reach their participant without issue. During the orientation, parents will also be given the program coordinator’s phone number to use in the case of an emergency.

While early check-out is technically allowed, it is highly discouraged. To get the full benefit of STEP, we encourage participants to stay for the entire week. Additionally, all projects are group-based, so leaving early can disrupt the team’s progress and affect the hard work everyone has contributed throughout the week.

In extenuating circumstances, temporary check-outs may be arranged, but we must be notified at least two weeks before camp begins to coordinate with the participant and their parent or guardian. If you have scheduling conflicts that cannot be rearranged, please email us at tex-summer-programs@ncsu.edu. We are happy to talk through your situation.

We love that you’re thinking ahead!

On Friday, after final presentations and awards, we’ll host a brief presentation to walk you through this exact question in more detail. But here’s a quick overview:

After STEP, you’ll wrap up the rest of your summer and get ready for your senior year of high school. Once the NC State admissions application opens on Aug. 1, we strongly encourage you to apply by the Early Action deadline, Nov. 1.

All STEP participants who apply by the Nov. 1 deadline will be automatically endorsed for the Textiles Scholarship Program. This endorsement gives you access to the scholarship application, but it does not guarantee an invitation to the scholarship selection process. The Textiles Scholarship application opens on Dec. 1 and stays open for four weeks. More information will be sent via email in mid-to-late Nov. to those who are eligible. 

Planning to apply to the fashion and textile design (FTD) program? Start your portfolio early! The FTD application requires a portfolio submission and only has one application deadline (Nov. 1), so be sure to visit the FTD program website for full details on the application process.