
What it is? How did it come to UW-L?
•Who was Ronald E. McNair
• Is there a need for such a program
at UW-L?
• What are the objectives?
• Which students will McNair serve?
• How will the program be
designed?
• How can we work
together?

Dr. Ronald E. McNair was one of
the astronauts killed in the 1986
Challenger accident.

BS in Physics from North Carolina
A&T State University (1971)

Ph.D. in Physics from
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (1976)

Performed some of the earliest
research on chemical HF/DF and
high-pressure CO lasers
Ken McElroy
John Awowale
Diamonds in the Rough:
students that have hidden, exceptional talents and/or
potential, but currently lack the resources to truly stand out
in their fields
Table 1. Profile of UWL Students (2005-06).
Eligibility Criterion % of Undergraduates
Low Income
13.1%
First-generation
40.2%
Underrepresented
3.0%
(total)
African American
No. of Students
1,065
3,273
257
Hispanic
0.8%
1.5%
72
125
American Indian
0.7%
60
Source: UW-L Office of Institutional Research
1. 100% of McNair participants will engage in
research and scholarly activities that will directly
impact their educational progression each
McNair Program academic year.
2. 100% of new participants served in each McNair
Program academic year will attain a
baccalaureate degree within three (3) years.
3. 70% of bachelor's degree recipients will enroll in
a post-baccalaureate program by the fall term of
the academic year immediately following
completion of that degree.
4. 10% of McNair Program participants will attain a
doctoral degree within ten (10) years of the
attainment of the bachelor's degree.
* The McNair program will serve 26 UW-L students each
academic year, including this year!
Sophomore
Recruitment
• McNair Night: September & April
• Presentations by McNair seniors
• Introduction to the program
• Start the application process
13 Junior Scholars
• Orientation for selected students
• Create Academic Achievement
Plan
• Linking scholars with faculty
mentors
• Pre-research seminars
• Complete annotated bibliography
• Receive research/scholarship
training
• Prepare research proposal
Summer
Research
Experience
• Conduct research
investigation
• Summarize/analyze
data or complete
scholarly activity
13 Senior Scholars
• Practice presenting research or
scholarly activity on-campus
• Power Point presentation for
McNair scholars and mentors
• McNair Night poster session
• Present research at research
conferences
• Local/state research conference
• Regional/national disciplinary
conference
Admission to
a PostBaccalaureate
Program
(Grad School)

Develop a university center for post-baccalaureate
studies

Broaden/enhance existing undergraduate research
experiences across campus

Develop partnerships to increase the retention of
our juniors and seniors – a major theme of Inclusive
Excellence

Broaden the ranks of the professorate