McNair Scholars Program
The McNair Scholars Program is embedded within the UROC Scholars program and prepares academically-talented and motivated CSUMB undergraduates from all majors for doctoral level studies via engagement in research and other scholarly activities that support the successful transition to graduate programs.
The McNair Program is for students who:
- Enjoy being part of a student cohort striving for graduate degrees.
- Strive for intensive research experiences.
- Dedicate themselves to scholarship, leadership, and high-achievement.
- Commit to pursuing a Ph.D. in a research-focused graduate program.
Applications to the McNair Scholars Program apply concurrently to the Scholars program in October of each year.
Benefits
- Discipline-specific faculty mentoring
- Comprehensive research seminar
- $2800 summer research stipend
- National recognition
- Graduate school preparation and funding advisement
- GRE fee reduction waivers and GRE preparation workshops including study materials
- Travel support to present research at nationally recognized research conferences
- Supportive network of McNair Scholars
- Graduate programs/schools visits
- Opportunity to publish in peer-reviewed journals
- Participation in cultural events and social gatherings
Eligibility
- Strong academic records (recommended minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA)
- U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent residency
- Be either a first-generation & low-income college student or belong to a group traditionally underrepresented in higher education
Dr. Ronald Erwin McNair was an American NASA astronaut and physicist who died during the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986. Growing up in a low-income community in South Carolina, McNair overcame obstacle after obstacle ultimately being selected as one of 35 new astronauts from 8,000 applicants in 1978. He was also one of just three African Americans selected, which included Col. Guion Bluford, the first African American to travel in space. McNair would become the second African American to fly in space in 1984. McNair was also an accomplished saxophonist and even played while in space.
Following his death, members of Congress provided funding to create the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program. It is intended to encourage students who come from low-income, first-generation college backgrounds, or are members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education to pursue doctoral level students through involvement in research and other scholarly activity.
Annually, the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Council of Graduate Schools compiles the Scholars Fee Waiver List, a list of graduate schools that offer fee waivers and/or other opportunities to McNair Scholars. The list was complied as a resource to help McNair Scholars find graduate schools that offer graduate school application fee waivers and/or fellowships and other opportunities that are available to McNair Scholars.
Conference Opportunities
McNair Scholars have many opportunities to experience a professional research conference. In addition to having the opportunity to present their research before an interdisciplinary community, scholars are able to network with faculty, graduate school staff, and their peers and receive invaluable information about the graduate school application process. See below opportunities offered throughout the year. Visit the McNair Scholars website for more conference opportunities.
Fall
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock McNair Research Symposium
- University of New Mexico McNair Research Conference
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- University of Delaware National McNair Scholars Research Conference and Graduate School Fair
- National Ronald E. McNair Conference and Graduate Fair–MAEOPP and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- MKN McNair Heartland Research Conference
- Florida International University
- Baylor University McNair Research Conference
Spring
- University of Washington EIP/GO-MAP Conference
- University of Maryland McNair Conference
- Texas National McNair Scholars Research Conference at the University of North Texas
- North Carolina A & T McNair Conference
- Emory University Laney Graduate School STEM Research and Career Symposium
Summer
- SAEOPP National McNair Scholars Research Conference
- National McNair Symposium at UCLA
- Heartland Conference
- Clarkson University Summer McNair Program
Campus Visitations and Application Preparation
Many graduate schools offer visitation events. These events may be paid for by the institution and offer a variety of services to assist students in applying for graduate schools. See below for a brief list.
- Columbia University EngAGE - Engineering Achievers in Graduate Education (EngAGE) prepares students to pursue degrees in Columbia University's engineering and applied sciences Ph.D. programs. Students meet faculty and students; tour the campus and research facilities; and attend workshops that will prepare them for the graduate school application process.
- UC Berkeley EDGE Conference - The Berkeley EDGE conference is designed to encourage underrepresented minority students who are competitively eligible for our Ph.D. programs to plan to apply to UC Berkeley. Approximately thirty students are chosen from the applications submitted.
- University of Minnesota - Psychology Diversity Weekend - The Department of Psychology Diversity Weekend is an all-expense paid visit to the University of Minnesota campus for prospective graduate students interested in applying to one of our seven Ph.D. programs in psychology. Selected participants will meet with relevant program faculty and graduate students, learn about the graduate application and admission process, and experience the diversity of the campus and Twin Cities. Undergraduate and masters students, as well as recent college graduates, from historically underrepresented groups in graduate training in psychology are eligible to apply.
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Campaign ASPIRE Early Application Campus Visit Program - Underrepresented students have the opportunity to visit the Urbana-Campaign campus early in their application process and be informed of the opportunities the university offers.
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Graduate Diversity & Inclusion McNair Visit Day - The UWM Graduate School, through its Office of Graduate Diversity & Inclusion, hosts an annual McNair Visit Day, where McNair Scholars have the opportunity to meet with faculty/staff in their area of interest to learn more about graduate research at the R1 UWM, hear from McNair alumni/current graduate students, tour the campus, as well as receive information on the graduate program application process and details on graduate funding opportunities.
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock McNair Research Symposium
Fall
- Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science
- Race, Ethnicity and Place Conference
- Psi Chi National Convention
- Ph.D. Project (business students interested in graduate programs)
- Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention
- The PhD Project (business students interested in graduate programs)
Spring
- NAAAS & Affiliates Joint National Conference
- Yale Bouchet Conference on Diversity and Graduate Education
- Oklahoma State University Research Symposium
- Northeast Modern Language Association
- National Undergraduate Literature Conference
- National Conference on Undergraduate Research
- Council on Undergraduate Research “Posters on the Hill” Conference
- Conference on College Composition and Communication
- American Educational Research Association
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
Summer