For Parents

For Parents

If you are considering one of our residential summer intensives for your child, you’ll probably have a lot of questions about campus life. We have provided some helpful resources here, but if you still have questions after reviewing these topics, please email Cameron MacManus at macmanusc@uncsa.edu or call the Community & Summer Programs office at 336-817-5027

Check-in details 

NOTE: 2024 dates will be posted in early 2024

Check-in Schedule 6/23/24

Check-in Schedule 6/30/24 (Piano 2-week ONLY)

Check-in Schedule 7/7/24 (Animation Session II and Piano 1-week ONLY)

Check-in Schedule 7/14/24 (Dance Professional Studies and Organ ONLY)

If you are arriving outside of the times listed on your check-in schedule, call 336-817-5027 to let us know your arrival day and time.  If you need airport pickup see the FAQ below for instructions.

Required Documents and Permissions

Important! The Health Form linked below is required of every student to ensure their health and safety while on campus. It is due no later April 25th, 2024. Don't wait until the last minute to complete it!

  • 2024 Summer Intensive Health Form
    Mail a hard copy of this form to the address on page 1.

  • Parents/guardians of UNCSA Summer Intensive students use the REACH system to request and approve off-campus trips for their children and to set which hosts your child is permitted to leave campus with.  Summer Intensive students use Reach to request leave with permission of parents and Residence Life, and to record their movements outside of the campus.  Using REACH enables all parties to know the student’s location at all times when they are in the school's care. REACH is a cloud-based product and you can access UNCSA’s Reach portal from any device that has a browser with internet connection.  Parent/guardians can access REACH using the Reach Student Life Management mobile app which is available for Apple and Android smartphones.  Parents of registered students will receive communication from Residence Life prior to the start of Summer Intensives to include secure REACH sign-up and a parent Q&A session covering all aspects of campus life and safety.  

Summer Campus Life

Students under the age of 18 are housed in residence halls on campus, with trained Resident Counselors on each floor, full-time professional staff, key-card access and strict sign-out policies. Rooms are singles or doubles. Summer Intensive roommates are assigned based on gender, age and arts discipline. Requests for specific roommates or singles will be considered, but are not guaranteed. Students under age 18 are not allowed to leave campus unless they are on a supervised class outing or activity trip. College-age students are housed separately from high school students, in the Center Stage apartment complex.

All residence halls are air-conditioned. See the FAQ section below for useful information, including a suggested packing list. Linens are NOT provided; beds are extra-long twin size.

A full meal plan (three meals/day) is included in room & board for students living on campus for one week or more. Dining Services offers healthy options at every meal, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menu items.  Students with special dietary needs or concerns should call Dining Services at 336-770-3327.

In general, students can expect to spend 7-8 hours in class on weekdays, with some programs holding evening and/or Saturday classes. Social activities are planned by the activities staff for evenings and weekends.

VIEW ACTIVITY CALENDAR

UNCSA is a relatively small campus, so it is a short walk from residence halls to the dining room or classes. The campus map is helpful in familiarizing yourself with facilities. The Hanes Student Commons is the campus hub, housing the Dining Hall, Health Services, a convenience store (POD Market) and a snack bar (Pickle Jar). The Fitness Center is available to students for Monday - Friday from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm and evenings Monday - Thursday 4:00 - 8:00 pm during the summer, with a gym, weights, cardio and other amenities. A waiver is required to use the weights/cardio machines etc. There is no swimming pool at UNCSA.

Security

Campus Police are on duty 24/7, facilitating a safe, secure and service-oriented environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors. Police officers routinely engage in crime prevention, security checks, safety escorts, and other public safety functions.

Handbook

The Summer Intensives Handbook includes valuable summer information such as Housing Policies and Information and information about campus activities and services available to summer students. The updated summer handbook will be posted later in 2024.

SUMMER INTENSIVES 2023 HANDBOOK 


A word about homesickness…

Most students attending a summer intensive are excited and ready for the chance to spread their wings and concentrate on their art. But some students find it hard to be away from home for the first extended period, and struggle with homesickness and anxiety. Our RCs and professional staff are trained and experienced in helping students through a homesick period (usually the first 1-3 days of a program), and most students come through fine.

We urge parents to have a serious talk with their child about whether they are ready to be away from home before registering. If you have any doubts at all about whether your child is ready, then please take a deep breath and wait a year. We want all students to feel happy and successful when they attend a summer intensive. For every student who leaves after a few days due to homesickness, there is a student who was shut out when the program filled. And we can’t give refunds for homesickness!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Covid-19 precautions will be in place for Summer 2023?

Covid vaccinations, testing and masking are strongly recommended but are not required.  Students who are ill with Covid or another infectious disease will need to be picked up by parents within 24 hours, as there is no infirmary at UNCSA.

Is transportation to and from the airport available?

Yes. Contact UNCSA Student Transportation at 336-770-1476 or email transportation@uncsa.edu to arrange airport/train/bus pickup. There is a fee, and reservations must be made no later than Friday, June 9. The Piedmont Triad Airport (PTI) in Greensboro (GSO) is the only airport where UNCSA will pick up students. The nearest train connection is in High Point (18 miles) or Greensboro (30 miles).

What comes standard with the room?

Artist Village has extra-long twin size beds, desks, dressers and venetian blinds. Each suite shares a mini-fridge and a microwave (please do not bring extra fridges or microwaves, as the building cannot accommodate them) Students are responsible for maintaining the condition of their room. Because students are here for a short time, we recommend that they only bring necessities.

Center Stage Apartments are two-bedroom apartments with full-size beds, desks, dressers, and mini blinds in each room. Each bedroom has a private bathroom. The apartments are completely furnished including a full kitchen and a washer and dryer.  Linens are not provided.  For Summer 2023, only participants in Dance Professional Studies who are over age 18 and have had a year of college will be housed at Center Stage.

How can parents get in touch with their children?

Office telephone numbers are as follows:

Are students allowed to have cars on campus?

Residential High School students are not allowed to have access to a car on- or off-campus. Students who have had at least a year of college or who are commuters may complete the Parking Permit Form to purchase a parking decal and park in designated places on campus.

Will students be notified of room and/or roommate assignments prior to their arrival?

No. Room and roommate assignments are given out on opening day. Residence Life reserves the right to change assignments when necessary.

When do the residence halls open? 

The first date for student check-in is Sunday, June 25.  The check-in schedules are posted above.

Students must complete registration, including all required paperwork, before checking into their residence halls. All programs end on a Friday, and student are free to depart as soon as their final performance has ended. Students who need to stay over Friday night must check out of the residence halls no later than 11 a.m. on the Saturday following the end of their program.

Can belongings be shipped to UNCSA before the program and shipped home at the end?

Yes. Belongings may to shipped to UNCSA no earlier than 1 week before the start of your program. If you plan to ship belongings, please dowload a Package Delivery Waiver form to enable belongings to be retrieved from the Mail Center. This ensures that belongings will be available to your child regardless of what time they arrive on check-in day. Use the following address for shipping:


Student’s Name
UNCSA Summer Intensives
1533 South Main Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27127-2738

Items students cannot take with them at the end of the program can be shipped from the Mail Center at the student's expense. The Residence Life staff will not assume responsibility for forwarding belongings left in the residence halls. Items left in the residence halls will be turned over to UNCSA Police.

How much spending money does a student need?

$30 a week is recommended, but the amount really depends on personal spending habits. Students have a pre-loaded spending allowance of $15 per week on their One Cards.  The total amount is pre-loaded so take care not to spend it all at once.

IMPORTANT - UNCSA is a cash-free campus.  The only place that cash is accepted is in the laundry areas (quarters or One Card).  We recommend a prepaid debit card for purchases that exceed the preloaded allowance.

All meals are provided for students living on campus, and on-campus events and activities are free. Students need money for laundry, printing, personal hygiene items and for shopping trips. The P.O.D. Market is open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. M-F and sells many personal items, as well as convenience store items.

Use caution with money and possessions. Valuables should be left at home and doors should be locked at all times. Unspent One Card money is non-refundable.

What kind of events are planned for the Summer Intensives?

Planned leisure events/activities during Summer Intensives are highly diversified. Supervised trips to shopping centers, movie theatres, swimming pools, parks and lakes are typical. Dances and games are also planned for recreation and fun. On-campus fitness facilities (open limited hours in summer) include weights, cardio machines and indoor basketball court. A waiver is required to use the weights/cardio machines.

How are the costs of the trips covered?

All on-campus activities are free. Transportation for off-campus trips is free, but students are responsible for their own purchases (movie tickets, shopping etc). Please check with the director of your program regarding possible conflicts with weekend trips before you sign up.

Are students allowed to ride in a taxi or ride share?

Students may be given permission by a staff member to ride in a taxi or ride share when necessary for a doctor’s appointment. Students are not allowed for reasons such as shopping, going out to dinner or to the movies etc. UNCSA provides ample transportation for such excursions.

Is ice available for dancers to ice their feet/legs?

Ice is available in Health Services during office hours (8 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-F).

Will students have computer access?

Students are provided Wifi access, but must bring their own computers. If a student wishes to bring a printer or a gaming system it is recommended that they bring their own Ethernet cord to connect to the port in their room.

Are televisions available?

Yes. There are television lounges provided in each residence hall area. Each residence hall is wired for cable. Students may bring their own televisions and cable cord.

Are laundry facilities available?

Yes. Washing machines cost $1.25/load using One Card, $1.50 using coins. Dryers are $0.25 for every 16 minutes using coins or One Card.

What are suggested items to bring?

For your room

  • Pillow
  • Blanket/bedspread
  • Extra-long twin-size sheets
  • Alarm clock
  • Waste basket
  • Clothes hangers
  • Towels/wash cloths
  • Soaps/lotions/creams
  • Sunscreen
  • Computer with Ethernet cord
  • Robe/slippers

Miscellaneous/Optional

  • Memo board for door
  • Personal toiletries
  • Small plastic bucket for shower items
  • Shower shoes/flip flops
  • TV/cable cords
  • Multi-plug strip
  • Umbrella/rain jacket
  • Cell phone charger
  • Batteries
  • Laundry bag
  • Sponge & cleaner
  • Laundry detergent