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| Program Description | Program Participants | Link | |||
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McNair Program Description |
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| Background: The program is named for NASA astronaut, Dr. Ronald E. McNair. Dr. McNair was killed in the Challenger Space Shuttle explosion January 28, 1987. Dr. McNair, Physicist by vocation, was also an accomplished musician and martial arts expert. He also had great interest in the education of our young people, and is the only African-American man to have a federal scholarship named in his honor. Project Purpose: The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement program awards grants to institutions of higher education for projects designed to prepare participants for doctoral studies (Ph.D.) through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. McNair Scholars are students who are first generation and low-income or students of African American, Hispanic, or Native American background who demonstrate strong academic potential. Institutions work closely with these participants through their undergraduate requirements, encourage their entrance into graduate programs, and track their progress to successful completion of advanced degrees. The goal of McNair is to increase the obtainment of the Ph.D. by students from segments of society that are underrepresented. Scope: The Project is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and was first funded in 1989. Fourteen schools were elected to implement the project. Approximately two hundred Scholars were involved. Today, many more McNair Scholars can be found in over 179 institutions nationwide. National Implications: The United States continues to experience a shortage of scientists. This will impact our competitiveness in the world economic market. It will also adversely affect the education system, particularly at the post-baccalaureate level. The demographics of the American workforce is also changing. Women and people of color will comprise the majority of the workforce. Much must be done to increase the awareness and support of women and people of color who demonstrate both the interest and ability to excel in these fields. Program Services: McNair is a pre-graduate fellowship program designed to prepare promising students for graduate studies leading to the obtainment of a Ph.D. degree. The program is year-round requiring a commitment of attendance at monthly workshops and seminars during the academic year and a full time commitment during the summer. Program activities may include: · guidance in establishing educational and career goals Eligibility Requirements: To receive assistance through the McNair Program, students must be enrolled in a degree-granting program at an eligible institution. Applicants must be working toward their first baccalaureate degree and must have an interest in pursuing their studies at the doctoral level. Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 and be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. Students should possess an interest in pursuing a Ph.D. and display promise for graduate study. Students on non-immigrant visas are not eligible. At least two-thirds of the Scholars must be low-income and first generation college students. A family’s size and taxable income are used to determine this criteria. Individuals that meet the income criterion must also be from families in which neither parent has earned a baccalaureate degree. Up to one-third of the Scholars can be members of a group typically underrepresented in graduate studies, (i.e. African-American, Hispanic American, Native American/Alaskan Native). Stipends and Courses: Junior and senior Scholars are eligible to receive up to $2800 for participating in the Graduate School Preparation Seminars and Summer Research Component. This generous stipend is provided so that Scholars can make the required full-time commitment to the program without experiencing financial hardship. Working and attending classes is not permitted during the Summer Research Component. Taking classes is permitted only under extenuating circumstances and when advance permission is granted by the supervising faculty advisor. Graduate School Preparation Seminars include assistance in sitting for
the GRE. In addition, some Scholars may arrange to receive up to five
(5) credit hours for conducting research.
Download Application: McNair Application
(MS Word Format)
l. Click on the following Link: McNair Application in MS Word format, or 2. CLICK ON CANCEL IN THE PASSWORD BOX.
3. Save this document on your hard drive. 4. Print out Additional Information:
Write: Dr. Jacqueline Gibson, Director
Visit: Office of Educational Opportunity One Park Place South, Suite 400 404-651-2467(phone) 404-651-1040 (fax)
oeojdg@langate.gsu.edu (e-mail)
http://www.gsu.edu/mcnair (website)
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