The McNair Scholars
Program
Pamela Nevar, PhD, Interim Faculty Coordinator
Kristina Owens, Program Coordinator
Whether or not you reach your
goals in life depends entirely
on how well you prepare for
them and how badly you want
them…. Before you can make a
dream come true, you must
first have one.
~ Dr. Ronald E. McNair
Star Trek & Dr. Ronald McNair:
“The birth of a dream”
1966 TV show Star Trek represented “science possibility” to McNair
Screen capture from StoryCorps: Eyes on the Stars http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okF5UGpivR8
The McNair Scholars
Program Exemplifies HIPs
•
•
•
High Impact Practices offer substantial educational benefits
Particularly enhance student success
Intentional design of curricular activities & student support
services combined w/enhanced cooperation among academic &
student success units can ensure that more students have access
to, and success in, these essential components of an engaging
college experience
From CWU web site http://www.cwu.edu/high-impact/what-are-high-impact-practices
The McNair Scholars
Program Goal
Prepare scholars for:
 Graduate school; to obtain doctoral degree
 Conduct research
 The GRE (Graduate Research Exam)
The McNair Scholars Program
Benefits for scholars
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Up to 12 academic elective credits
One-on-one meetings w/ a faculty mentor
Paid nine-week, full-time summer research fellowship
Training in how to write & present scholarly research
paper
Opportunity to present research at conferences
Guidance through graduate school application process
Grad school application fee waivers for many programs
Free and discounted Cultural Events
Leadership Transcript designation
The McNair Scholars Program
Benefits for faculty mentors
•
•
•
•
Opportunity to directly contribute to
student’s academic advancement
Serve as positive academic role model
Some funds available for mentors to
accompany scholars who will present their
research at professional conferences.
Recognized as a service for faculty portfolio
The McNair Scholars Program
Collaboration w/ SHRP
Science Honors Research Program
 Science Honors/McNair Scholars Dual Track
McNair Program Research
Track
First Year – Fall Qtr
MCNA 301, Intro to the McNair Prog 1 cr.
• Find a faculty mentor
• Identify research topics
• Discuss topics w/faculty mentor to
narrow down to one topic
McNair Program Research
Track
First Year – Winter Qtr
MCNA 395, UG Research Methods 2 cr.
• Write proposal
 Incl. budget & timeline
McNair Program Research
Track
First Year – Spring Qtr
MCNA 302, Finding a Grad School 1 cr
•
•
•
Finalize research proposal
Contact Graduate Schools for visit
ID potential conference(s)
We assist w/ funding to
attend conferences & visit grad schools
McNair Program Research
Track
First Year - Summer
• Conduct research w/mentor
• Scholars are paid a Stipend for their
 Research fellowship
 Research associate
• Complete research paper
McNair Program Research
Track
Second Year
•
•
•
Prep research for presentation at
conferences & SOURCE
Complete grad school applications
Schedule GRE exam
•
Obtain waiver from program on a firstcome-first-served basis
Presenting at SOURCE is REQUIRED!
The McNair Program
Thanks!
See our brochure for
contact information
Screen capture from StoryCorps: Eyes on the Stars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okF5UGpivR8