McNair Facts, Stories, and Successes

Overview

The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program is U.S. Department of Education TRIO program that prepares historically underrepresented undergraduate students (e.g., first-generation and low-income) for graduate school success. McNair makes its scholars ready for doctoral study, with the goal of professional, workforce development (whether that be careers in higher education or industry). The MSU McNair Scholars Program is in its sixteenth year of operation (MSU Grant Award # P217A230003). MSU offers the only McNair Scholars Program in Montana (there are 218 McNair programs across the U.S.). 

The MSU McNair Scholars Program accomplishes this goal by prioritizing three, key areas of support: 

1.     Undergraduate Research: paid, mentored summer research

2.     Holistic Academic Preparation: advising and research training, academic writing, public speaking, academic tutoring, and graduate school application support (e.g., graduate school preparation seminars, graduate school application waivers, 3-credit summer tuition waiver, mindfulness training, food and on-campus housing allowance). 

3.     Financial support for professional development (e.g., conference travel and graduate school visits).

McNair Fast Facts

The MSU McNair Scholars Program is funded to serve 25 students annually; the actual number served is typically higher (2024 percentage served = 164%). 182 students have completed the MSU McNair Scholars Program.