UIW McNair Scholars Program Fact Sheet
The UIW McNair Scholars Program is named for laser physicist and Challenger astronaut, Dr. Ronald E. McNair. Dr. McNair was a Ph.D. graduate of the Massachusetts Institute Technology (MIT) and one of the first African Americans to travel into space. He died in the NASA Challenger disaster in 1986. The UIW McNair Scholars Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of the program is to prepare talented low-income, first generation college students and students from other underrepresented groups for acceptance in doctoral programs. Program components include an intensive research internship with a faculty mentor, professional development seminars, participation in professional or research conferences, and assistance in preparing for graduate school exams and applying to graduate school. The program emphasizes careers in research and college level teaching.
During the summer portion of the program, students will complete a research internship, which requires a 320-hour commitment. Students completing the internship are awarded a stipend of up to $2,800 and funding for research materials. Scholarship monies are now available for research scholars during their junior and senior years for a total of four semesters.
During the academic year, students will continue working with their mentors and will attend professional development seminars. Students will attend a professional conference or research conference during the academic year and be encouraged to present their research. Students also will visit graduate schools.
To be eligible for the McNair Scholars Program and participate in the Summer Research Experience a student must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate student in a degree program at the University of the Incarnate Word
- Be a low-income and first generation college student, or a member of an underrepresented group (i.e., Hispanic, African American, Native American, or Pacific Islander-Native Hawaiian, Guamanian, or Samoan)
- Have a grade point average of 2.7 or better
- Have completed enough hours to qualify for junior standing before their first summer in the program
Students who have not completed enough hours to qualify for junior standing may still apply for the program and participate in a number of activities that will prepare them for full participation in the Summer Research Experience when they have earned enough credits. This component allows sophomores to begin preparing for both undergraduate research and exploration of graduate schools.
Applications are available online www.uiw.edu/mcnair/ or in the University of the Incarnate Word McNair Scholars Program Office (Admin. Bldg., Rm.120, 829-2791). For more information contact the Program Director, Dr. Roberta Leichnitz at 829-3929 or the Dean of Graduate Studies & Research and Principal Investigator, Dr. Kevin B. Vichcales at 829-3555.
