RONALD E. MCNAIR
POST-BACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM

In 1967, he graduated valedictorian from Carver High School. In 1971, he graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in physics and enrolled at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Ronald McNair earned a Ph.D. in laser physics at 26 and eventually became a nationally recognized expert in the field.

In 1978, Dr. McNair was selected by NASA as one of thirty-five applicants from a pool of ten thousand for the space shuttle program. Dr. McNair was assigned as a mission specialist aboard the 1984 flight of the shuttle Challenger. On his first space shuttle mission aboard Challenger, he orbited the earth 122 times. Among his many academic achievements, Dr. McNair was the recipient of three honorary doctorates and a number of fellowships and commendations. He was a sixth degree black belt in karate and an accomplished jazz saxophonist.

Dr. McNair was the mission specialist aboard the ill-fated Challenger flight in 1986. On the morning of January 28, 1986, Dr. McNair and six crew members died in an explosion aboard the space shuttle.

"Before you can make a dream come true, you must first have one." - Dr. McNair

*Courtesy, in part, of the Cal State Fullerton McNair Program web site.

The mission of the University of Maryland Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is to increase the number of undergraduates enrolling in graduate school to pursue doctoral degrees.

Values:
Given the legislative intent and purposes of the McNair Scholars Program and the mission of Academic Achievement Programs, the following primary values are espoused in all that we do:

• Commitment - We believe in commitment to all participants to ensure their success and believe that participants should demonstrate a commitment to achieving success.
• Achievement - We believe that all participants can achieve their goals and believe that achievement of objectives must be demonstrated.
• Research - We believe that strong research skills will contribute to life-long success.
• Integrity - We believe that personal character contributes to success and that honesty and sincerity should be transparent in our work and our interactions with students.

Program Objectives
The approved program objectives for the McNair Program are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relational, and time-specific). The objectives are:

• 90% of McNair Program participants served during the project year will have completed appropriate research or scholarly activities during the McNair Program academic year.
• 60% of McNair Program bachelor's degree recipients (or equivalent) will be accepted and enrolled in a post-baccalaureate program of study by the fall term of the academic year immediately following the completion of the bachelor's degree (or equivalent).
• 80% of first year graduate students will continue to be enrolled in graduate school at the beginning of the fall term of the next academic year.
• 12% of McNair Program participants will attain a doctoral degree within ten (10) years of the attainment of the bachelor's degree.

Learning Outcomes
Given the legislative intent of the McNair Scholars Program, as a result of their McNair experiences, participants will be able to:

• Distinguish between undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral-level education;
• Research and identify potential graduate programs in their field of study;
• Research and identify potential sources of financial support for graduate study;
• Develop a cogent research design;
• Describe and present their research at national conferences and to varied audiences;
• Describe and explain pathways and obstacles to the professoriate.

Evidence of Success
To demonstrate achievement of objectives and learning outcomes, the program will:

• Establish clear learning outcomes for all program activities;
• Assess, measure, and report progress on the federally-approved objectives each year;
• Administer questionnaires and surveys at least annually to assess and measure student knowledge and skills;
• Administer questionnaires and surveys at least annually to assess and measure mentor perceptions of McNair Scholars' knowledge, skills, and readiness for graduate school and doctoral study;
• Administer exit interviews to graduating scholars;
• Administer alumni surveys to assess and measure impact of services on scholars' status after exiting the program;
• Publish McNair Scholars' research abstracts or papers;
• Organize a forum at least annually where McNair scholars present their research;
• Assess, measure, and report annually Scholars' performance in summer research classes;
• Assess, measure, and report outcomes and scholars' perceptions of workshops and select program activities.

• FREE academic skills support services to enhance your research and delivery skills
• FREE assistance with planning and preparing for graduate school
• FREE assistance with planning and preparing for doctorate-level education
• FREE academic credits for research based on the Research Methods Course offered during the Summer Research Institute courses (up to 2 credits)
• FREE housing and meals during the Summer Research Experience
• FREE or REDUCED fee waivers when applying to select graduate schools
• Consideration for financial support to take the GRE tests
• Opportunities to attend graduate school visits
• Opportunities to present research at McNair research conferences
• Academic notation of participation on the official University transcript
• Stipend to conduct research during the Summer Research Experience
• Networking opportunities with the national McNair community of McNair Scholars
• Supplemental academic advising
• Research mentoring from trained or practicing researchers
• Engagement with the national TRiO community of caring professionals

• Students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.85 in the major or
• Students with exceptional academic progress in the two preceding semesters or
• Students with exceptional academic progress in the last 30 hours of academic credits
• Interested in attending graduate school and pursuing doctoral studies
• Interested in a joint professional and traditional academic doctoral degree
• Full-time sophomores (60 credits minimum), juniors and, on rare occasion, seniors who can commit to a summer research experience and have had prior research experience
• Enrolled at the University of Maryland College Park, Frostburg State University, or Saint Mary's College of Maryland
• From groups traditionally under-represented in graduate school or specific graduate programs
• Students who meet financial and family education requirements per the U.S. Department of Education
• U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Transfer students who meet all the above requirements

The McNair Scholars Program is preparing the next generation of problem-solvers, scholars, public intellectuals, professors, and leaders. We consider the following qualities:

• Self-motivated
• Mature, responsible and reliable
• Potential for leadership
• Honesty, sincerity and integrity
• A commitment to research
• An activist spirit
• A desire to discover and contribute new knowledge

Complete and submit an application:

• Completed application form supplying information on background and skills
• Statement of Purpose outlining graduate studies objectives and how participation in the program will help meet those objectives
• All official transcripts, including from transfer institutions
• Two letters of recommendation appraising the student's academic abilities and potential to successfully complete graduate level work. One of the letters must come from a professor in the student's field of study or previous professors if a transfer student. If student was or is a participant in a TRiO program one letter of recommendation may come from a TRIO program director or another individual who can speak to student's character and other personal qualities.
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident Status
  Signed tax statement from parent (if dependent)
  Signed financial aid form
  Signed statement on application from parent (if dependent)
  Signed statement on application from applicant (if independent)