The Oregon State University McNair Scholars Program

The Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at Oregon State University provides rigorous academic preparation for doctoral education for low income and first generation, as well as underrepresented minority students. The ultimate goal is student enrollment and success in doctoral programs. The OSU McNair scholars program has strong commitments from the university administration, academic deans, directors of undergraduate programs, and research faculty.

Research faculty in varied disciplines will serve as mentors to McNair participants. An important component of this program is the 2-month summer research institute. Students will participate in active research with their mentors. In addition, they will attend seminars to prepare themselves for necessary qualifying exams (e.g. GRE and professional school exams), explore ways to finance graduate education, and acquire graduate school survival skills. Participants are required to continue working with their mentors, the program director, and the McNair coordinator throughout the academic year, working closely through undergraduate requirements, entrance into graduate programs, and tracking progress to successful completion of advanced degrees.

The OSU McNair Scholars program is one of two of its kind in the state of Oregon. In 1989, 14 universities were selected to develop the McNair Scholars Program, established by the U.S. Department of Education, and named for astronaut and Challenger crewmember Dr. Ronald E. McNair. Today, the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program awards grants to some 156 institutions of higher education for projects designed to prepare participants for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. The goal of the McNair Scholars program is to increase graduate degree attainment of students from underrepresented segments of society. The McNair Scholars program has earned national and international recognition as a model for promoting graduate education.

For More Information, Contact:

Ataa Akyeampong, Ph.D., Director

akyeampa@onid.orst.edu

Raina Martinez , Coordinator

martinra@onid.orst.edu

Amy Davila-Klautzsch, Administrative Assistant

amy.davila-klautzsch@orst.edu

McNair Scholars Program

Oregon State University

337 Waldo Hall

Corvallis, OR 97331-6405

541.737.3628 (office)

541.737.3998 (fax)

Federal TRiO Programs are educational opportunity outreach programs designed to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In the late 1960’s the term TRiO was coined to describe three programs; Upward Bound, Talent Search and Student Support Services. TRiO now includes six outreach and support programs including the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. These programs are targeted to serve and assist low-income, first-generation college and disabled students to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.

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