The Ronald E. McNair Post baccalaureate Achievement Program was established to prepare low income, first generation college students and students from groups underrepresented in graduate education for doctoral study. It is a nationwide program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, created in memory of Ronald E. McNair, Ph.D., an African American physicist killed in the space shuttle Challenger mission in 1986.
There are some similarities in that each program provide.
Scholars engage in:
- A collaborative research project with a faculty mentor
- Presentation of research at the McNair Scholars Poster Session
- Publication of research in The McNair Scholars Journal of the University ofWisconsin-Superior
- Seminars on topics such as: Research Basics, Library and Internet Resources, The Institutional Review Board Process,
Choosing a Graduate School, Funding Graduate School, Writing a Personal Statement, and Successful Graduate School Interviewing
- GRE test preparation
- Academic counseling and tutoring as needed.
In addition, programs may provide the following opportunities:
Benefits:
Scholars receive:
- A stipend for completing the research (paid over the summer)
- A mentoring relationship with a faculty member
- Strengthening of academic and research skills
- Graduate school application assistance and advocacy
- Opportunities to attend and present your research at professional conferences
- Opportunities to visit graduate schools
- Application fee waivers from participating graduate institutions
Who Qualifies:
Students must meet certain qualifications set by federal regulations to be accepted into the program including:
- Be income eligible and a first generation college student (neither parent has a Bachelor's degree)
OR
- Be from a group that is underrepresented in graduate school (Native American, Hispanic, or African American)
- ALL students must be sophomore to senior undergraduate students AND be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
