Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program

Overview

<p>Purpose of Program: The McNair Program is one of the seven programs collectively known as the Federal TRIO Programs. The McNair Program awards discretionary grants to institutions of higher education for projects designed to provide disadvantaged college students with effective preparation for doctoral study.</p> <p><strong>Program Description</strong><br>Through a grant competition, funds are awarded to institutions of higher education to prepare eligible participants for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. Participants are from disadvantaged backgrounds and have demonstrated strong academic potential. Institutions work closely with participants as they complete their undergraduate requirements. Institutions encourage participants to enroll in graduate programs and then track their progress through to the successful completion of advanced degrees. The goal is to increase the attainment of Ph.D. degrees by students from underrepresented segments of society.</p> <p><strong>Types of Projects</strong><br>All McNair projects must provide the following activities: opportunities for research or other scholarly activities; summer internships; seminars and other educational activities designed to prepare students for doctoral study; tutoring; academic counseling; and activities designed to assist students participating in the project in securing admission to and financial assistance for enrollment in graduate programs. McNair projects may also provide the following additional activities: education or counseling services designed to improve financial and economic literacy of students; mentoring programs involving faculty members at institutions of higher education or students, or any combination of such persons; and exposure to cultural events and academic programs not usually available to disadvantaged students.</p> <p>Students who qualify for McNair must be enrolled in a degree-granting program at an eligible institution. In all projects, at least two-thirds of the participants must be low-income, potential first-generation college students. The remaining participants may be from groups that are underrepresented in graduate education.</p> <p><strong>Priorities</strong></p> <p>This notice contains two competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional six points to an application, depending on how well the application meets these priorities.</p> <ul> <li><em><strong>Competitive Preference Priority 1:</strong> </em>Promoting Equity in Student Access to Educational Resources and Opportunities (Up to 3 points). Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the project will be implemented by one or more of the following entities:</li> </ul> <ol> <li>Historically Black colleges and universities (as defined in this notice).</li> <li>Tribal Colleges and Universities (as defined in this notice).</li> <li>Minority-serving institutions (as defined in this notice).</li> </ol> <ul> <li><em><strong>Competitive Preference Priority 2:</strong> </em>Applications that Demonstrate a Rationale (Up to 3 points). Under this priority, an applicant proposes a project that demonstrates a rationale (as defined in this notice). Demonstrates a rationale means a key project component included in the project’s logic model is informed by research or evaluation findings that suggest the project component is likely to improve relevant outcomes.</li> </ul> <p>Groups underrepresented in graduate education include Black (non-Hispanic), Hispanic, American Indian, Alaskan Native (as defined in section 7306 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA)), Native Hawaiians (as defined in section 7207 of the ESEA), and Native American Pacific Islanders (as defined in section 320 of the HEA).</p>