Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program (McNair Scholars Program)

The McNair Scholars Program is a federal TRIO grant funded by the United States Congress and facilitated by the U.S. Department of Education, designed to prepare undergraduate participants for doctoral studies through involvement in research, professional development, and scholarly activities. The program carries the mission of increasing the representation of first-generation, low-income, and racial/ethnic minority students within graduate education and the PhD. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has received grant funding since 1991 as one of the first 14 institutions awarded the McNair grant. Participation begins in the Spring semester prior to graduation with flexible lunch and learn workshops focusing on research building skills. Participants engage with all programming each term from admission until receipt of the bachelor's degree. Summer programming entails a full-time research internship lasting 10 weeks. Participants who complete the summer component and fulfill program requirements receive a summer stipend, graduate school application fee waivers, and a reduction in the cost of the GRE. Applicants must be enrolled full-time in the undergraduate division at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and meet minimum eligibility criteria. Submissions are reviewed by a committee and admission is provided to no more than 15 students per cohort. After summer programming, participants engage in regular meetings with McNair staff on their progress towards graduate program application and Fall/Spring McNair programming.