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The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Scholars Program

Program Services

 

Coursework

McNair Scholars enroll in specialized courses covering topics such as the craft of research, the culture of graduate education, the graduate school application process, quantitative and verbal reasoning, graduate-level writing, and teaching at the college level.  Additional preparation workshops and weekend sessions are provided on an as-needed basis.


Research Experience

McNair Scholars conduct a McNair Research Project with the guidance of a McNair Faculty Mentor. Scholars are eligible for travel and conference registration funds to present their research at regional and national conferences. Scholars publish their research project in The McNair Journal.


Counseling and Mentoring

McNair Scholars meet regularly with the McNair Program Staff to build Individual Preparation Plans and receive one-on-one academic and career counseling and mentoring. Along with the program staff, Faculty Mentors, and McNair alumni mentor Scholars as they develop academic and professional skills and meet scholarly performance standards crucial to completing graduate-level work.

Additional Resources for McNair Scholars

Funding to participate in the McNair Summer Institute

McNair Scholars are provided with a research stipend and a room and board allowance for the McNair Summer Institute, May through July. Last summer, the funding package was $5200.00.


Graduate Application Fee Waiver

The McNair Program has a special relationship with hundreds of schools across the nation that have agreed to waive the application costs for McNair Scholars.  Find out which schools offer these (and other) benefits with the Council for Opportunity in Education List of Fellowships and Application Fee Waivers.


Cultural Enrichment Activities
The McNair Program sponsors Scholars to attend cultural enrichment activities such as theatrical and musical performances and invited lectures.


McNair Alumni Network

McNair Scholars are mentored by McNair Alumni from the WSU McNair Program, as well as many McNair programs across the country.  This important corps of mentors provide current Scholars with additional sources of support, wisdom, and inspiration.