McNair Stories and Successes

The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program is U.S. Department of Education TRIO program that prepares historically underrepresented undergraduate students (e.g., first-generation and low-income) for graduate school success. McNair makes its scholars ready for doctoral study, with the goal of professional workforce development (whether that be careers in higher education or industry).

The MSU McNair Scholars Program accomplishes this goal by prioritizing three, key areas of support: 

1.     Undergraduate Research: paid, mentored summer research

2.     Holistic Academic Preparation: advising and research training, academic writing, public speaking, academic tutoring, and graduate school application support (e.g., graduate school preparation seminars, graduate school application waivers, 3-credit summer tuition waiver, mindfulness training, food and on-campus housing allowance). 

3.     Financial support for professional development (e.g., conference travel and graduate school visits).

The MSU McNair Scholars Program is in its sixteenth year of operation (MSU Grant Award # P217A230003). Although there are 216 other McNair programs across the U.S., the MSU offers the only McNair program in Montana.