The McNair Scholars Program
Pamela Nevar, PhD, Interim Faculty CoordinatorKristina 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 ProgramBenefits 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 ProgramBenefits 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/ SHRPScience Honors Research Program
Science Honors/McNair Scholars Dual Track
McNair Program Research Track
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
First Year – Fall Qtr
McNair Program Research Track
MCNA 395, UG Research Methods 2 cr.• Write proposal
Incl. budget & timeline
First Year – Winter Qtr
McNair Program Research Track
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
First Year – Spring Qtr
McNair Program Research Track
• Conduct research w/mentor• Scholars are paid a Stipend for their
Research fellowship Research associate
• Complete research paper
First Year - Summer
McNair Program Research Track
• Prep research for presentation at conferences & SOURCE
• Complete grad school applications• Schedule GRE exam• Obtain waiver from program on a first-
come-first-served basisPresenting at SOURCE is REQUIRED!
Second Year
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
