Morganton takes the stage as UNC power brokers convene in April

More than 100 of North Carolina’s top education, legal, and political leaders are set to arrive in Morganton next month—putting the city in the spotlight and offering a rare chance to influence decisions that could shape its future.

The University of North Carolina System Board of Governors convenes for the first time at Morganton’s North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) campus in April.

NCSSM is part of the UNC system, and the staff expects more than 100 officials to grace its doorstep. The board meets about eight times each year, with most gatherings at the system office in Raleigh.

The high school is pulling out all the stops to make the visit monumental.

“Leading up to the April sessions, our team is brainstorming, collaborating, and considering every detail, large and small, to provide a wonderful experience for our guests,” the administrative operations and facilities teams said.

From the Fairfield Inn getting booked to the brim to Root & Vine opening its doors for an invitation-only dinner, businesses are going out of their way to leave a lasting impression.

“This is a historic occasion for our school and for the city of Morganton,” said Kevin Baxter, vice chancellor and chief campus officer for NCSSM-Morganton, “and is yet another example of the significant economic impact that has been catalyzed by the state locating NCSSM’s second campus in Burke County.”

“We are especially excited that our visitors from across the UNC System will have another opportunity to witness firsthand the warmth and hospitality that have long been a hallmark of our region,” he added.

The school looks forward to showing off its newest buildings, Joiner Hall and the nearly finished UNC Health Blue Ridge Student Wellness and Activities Center.

NCSSM-Morganton Director of Communications Emily Cunard said, “This is one of the largest events we have hosted, and we are hosting this while maintaining the daily needs of our residential students. We will be using many of our large event spaces including Joiner Hall and The Barn in innovative ways to meet the needs for the committee and board meetings.”

NCSSM-MORGANTON

The campus, which officially opened in 2022, offers about 300 spots a year to academically gifted high school juniors and seniors, available by application only.

NCSSM also has a home in Durham. Considered the same school, but a separate campus, UNC founded the Durham campus in 1980, specializing in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

In October 2025, the education review site, Niche.com, ranked NCSSM the No. 1 public high school in North Carolina for the sixth year in a row and No. 1 nationally for the third time in four years.

Graduation from the residential high school program has historically guaranteed acceptance to the UNC higher education system. Some previous graduating classes also received that degree tuition-free.