Program Description

The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program is designed to provide talented low-income/first-generation and ethnic minority undergraduate students with effective preparation for doctoral study. The McNair program at Sam Houston State University encourages graduate studies by providing opportunities for undergraduates to define their goals, engage in research, and develop the skills and faculty mentor relationships that are critical to success at the doctoral level.

Educational and Financial Benefits

•  $ 1,600 Summer research stipend: Each scholar will be awarded a $1600 research scholarship. It will be disbursed in three stipends during the academic year.

•  Tuition waiver for 3-hour Spring research class: The research class will be held during the Spring semester. The class will cover numerous aspects important to the process of conducting scholarly research. Information on qualitative and quantitative research is provided. Tuition is paid for the class; however, neither the university nor the McNair program is able to pay for fees. Therefore, fees will have to be paid by the student. The credit hours for the class serve as three elective credit hours.

•  Paid travel to research conferences: Each scholar is allocated a budget for travel to conferences. Scholars can attend a McNair research conference or a professional conference in their discipline. Some accommodations can be paid in advance (e.g., airfare, registration), but students will be reimbursed for other expenses incurred during their trip (e.g., gas, lodging, meals).

•  Paid travel to graduate programs: Scholars who are interested in visiting a prospective graduate program should submit the request in writing. Information on estimated costs of the trip should be detailed including: transportation, lodging, and food. As stated above, some accommodations can be paid in advance but students will be reimbursed for other expenses that may be incurred during the trip.

•  Personal mentoring: Scholars who are interested in visiting a prospective graduate program should submit the request in writing. Information on estimated costs of the trip should be detailed including: transportation, lodging, and food. As stated above, some accommodations can be paid in advance but students will be reimbursed for other expenses that may be incurred during the trip.

•  Tutoring: The program will attempt to provide or locate tutoring services for students, if needed.

•  Workshops: During the Fall semester, workshops will be held for McNair scholars only. Subjects will include statistics tutorials, computer training, study skills, stress management, financial aid, library resources, and numerous aspects of the graduate school application process.

•  Use of laptops for juniors: Laptops will be loaned to all McNair scholars. Scholars will have use of these computers for one year. Laptops will include wireless internet only on Sam Houston State University 's campus.

•  Graduate application fee waivers and other incentives: McNair Scholars may qualify to receive application fee waivers to many graduate programs across the country. There are typically additional incentives for McNair scholars, including tuition waivers and scholarship packages. Please visit the following link for more information (the current list is available from the University of Rochester at http://www.rochester.edu/College/McNair-Program/applicationIncentives.html ).

•  Help with preparation for graduate entrance exams: Preparatory workshops are offered to McNair Scholars for the GRE/GMAT exams. Contact the Financial Aid Department to inquire about a GRE fee waiver.

•  Lending Library: The McNair program has several helpful books on writing, graduate school, exam preparation, and other books that may be checked out.

 

To give comments about this page please e-mail: mcnair@shsu.edu