The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is a federally funded TRiO program that prepares undergraduate sophomores and juniors from all fields of study for entry into Ph.D. programs. One of the goals of this program is to provide opportunities for first-generation, low-income, and/or underrepresented students to enter graduate school. The ultimate goal of the McNair Program is to have these students return to colleges and universities as faculty and thus increase diversity of professors at institutes of higher learning.
To be eligible for the program, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, completed at least 60 credit units (sophomores/juniors), and be legal U.S. residents/citizens from low-income and first-generation and/or from underrepresented communities. Students are competitively selected in two cohorts over the academic year so that there are 25 students in the program at any one time. The program runs for two (up to three) years, during which students take two additional courses, ENG 303.0: Graduate Records Examination (GRE) Preparation, and ENG 303.1: Research Methods; participate in a 10-week summer research internship with faculty mentorship; visit several graduate school programs; and participate in cultural events. Students are expected to present their summer research project at a regional or national meeting, and they receive a $2,800 stipend over the course of their research project.
McNair Stipends
The McNair Scholars Program gives stipends of up to $2,800 per year to students engaged in approved research internships, provided that the student has completed the sophomore year of study at an eligible institution before the internship begins.
Project services and activities
- Opportunities for research and other scholarly activities designed to provide participants with effective preparation for doctoral study
- Summer internships
- Seminars and other educational activities
- Tutoring
- Academic counseling
- Assistance in securing admission to and financial aid for enrollment in graduate programs
- Mentoring from faculty in the student’s chosen field
- Exposure to cultural events and academic programs which enhance student understanding of and interest in local and global communities.
Requirements/Expectations
- Attendance at weekly or biweekly seminars (summer, spring, fall)
- Completion of a one-year academic research internship
- Academic participation at a national conference
- Consistent, documented communication with staff, graduate mentors, and faculty
- Rigorous preparation for the GRE general exam, including setting a testing date
- Attain a doctoral degree within 10 years of attaining a bachelor’s degree from Heritage University