Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program Prepares Undergraduates to Pursue Research
In support of the commitment to provide educational opportunities for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background,
or economic circumstance, Congress established a series of programs to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and
move on to participate more fully in America's economic and social life. These Programs initially created under Title IV of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 are referred to as the TRIO Programs, since initially there were just three programs. Among
the TRIO programs are Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math-Science, Educational Opportunity Centers, TRIO Dissemination Partnership Program, Training
Program for Federal TRIO Programs Staff, Talent Search, Student Support Services, and the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program.
The McNair Scholars Program, named after the late Dr. Ronald E. McNair*, is particularly designed to prepare participants
for doctoral studies through involvement in research and scholarly activities. While student financial aid programs help students
overcome financial barriers to higher education, the McNair Program, like the other TRIO programs help students overcome class,
social and cultural barriers to higher education and is funded at more than 175 institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico by the US Department of Education, serving approximately
4200 students annually.
McNair participants are from disadvantaged backgrounds
and have demonstrated strong academic potential. Prior to program participation,
participants must have earned at least sixty undergraduate credits, but not yet have a bachelors degree; have a grade point
average of 3.0 or better (4 point scale) in cumulative course work; be a US citizen or permanent resident; be considered low-income
and first generation (neither parent has a bachelors degree) or be from a group under-represented by graduate students; and
be committed to success and attaining a Ph.D.
Program benefits include: involvement in a prestigious, nationally recognized scholars program, stipends to enhance research and
writing skills, workshops on graduate research, funding and the application process, assistance with admission essays for
graduate school, preparation for the G.R.E., one-on-one advising and support from McNair Staff, opportunities to participate
in research conferences to present original research, travel to prospective graduate schools, personally assigned Ph.D. faculty
member from the student’s institution to mentor the student during their time in the program, involvement in a cohesive
community of educators and scholars, and camaraderie with fellow students.
Two recent BPD Summer Policy Fellows were McNair Scholars. Both the 2007 and 2005 BPD Summer Policy Fellows, Chasity Wells-Armstrong and Bethany Wilfert benefited
from participation in the McNair Scholars Program as BSW students. According
to Wells-Armstrong, “As a McNair Scholar at Governors State University in Illinois, I have had the opportunity to improve
my writing and public presentation skills in preparation for meeting with graduate schools for admission and presenting information
amongst peers. Learning to write a personal statement and securing information
for graduate schools were invaluable tools that I acquired through the program. Also,
although my research project is still in progress, I have had the opportunity to develop research skills and hone my expertise
in qualitative analysis.”
Although there are no specific numbers with regard to social work students
participating in the McNair Scholars Program, students from all disciplines, including social work, are represented throughout
the country. Over 1,000 colleges, universities, community
colleges, and agencies now offer TRIO Programs in America. TRIO funds are distributed to institutions through competitive grants which are announced every year
through the U. S. Department of Education. As a result of the competition being
held every four years, the next opportunity to apply for the McNair grant will be held in 2010. For more information regarding the McNair Scholars Program, view information at www.ed.gov/programs/triomcnair/index.html.
*Dr. Ronald E. McNair graduated from MIT in 1976. Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978, he completed a 1-year training and evaluation
period in August 1979, qualifying him for assignment as a mission specialist astronaut on Space Shuttle flight crews. Dr. McNair died on January 28, 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded after launch from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
