Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program

"Before you can make a dream come true, you must first have one." -Ronald E. McNair, Ph.D.

Funding and Purpose

The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program was established by the U.S. Department of Education in 1986. The Program, named for astronaut and Challenger space shuttle crew member, Dr. Ronald E. McNair, encourages students to pursue graduate studies. The program provides opportunities to define goals, engage in research, and develop the skills and student/faculty mentor relationships critical to success at the doctoral level.

The Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program supports a multi-campus project composed of four (4) institutions of higher education in the State of Texas. The project serves twenty (20) upper-level students from one urban public institution and three (3) private institutions. In addition to Texas Southern University (Houston, Texas), the affiliated institutions include; Jarvis Christian College (Hawkins, Texas), Texas College (Tyler, Texas), and Wiley College (Marshall, Texas). Texas Southern University serves as the host university for this Ronald McNair Program.

Objectives

The objective of the Ronald McNair Scholars Program is to increase the opportunities for first-generation, low-income students and students from groups that are underrepresented in graduate education, to pursue doctoral study. Consistent with that purpose, the Texas College McNair Program is designed to ensure that eligible students: 1) will be selected for and enrolled in the McNair Scholars Program; 2) will be provided with the appropriate academic, financial and personal development assistance needed to earn their baccalaureate degrees, and 3) will enter and graduate from post-baccalaureate programs of study and ultimately earn the doctoral degree.

Who is eligible to be a McNair Scholar?

Highly talented, first generation, low income college students and students in ethnic groups that are under-represented in graduate programs, who are seeking degrees in Natural and Computational Sciences and , Business and Social Science and the social sciences are eligible to participate. Participants must also have a 3.0 or above average and possess strong determination to pursue the doctoral degree. Additionally, participants must be permanent U.S. citizens, residents of U.S. trust territories, or Pacific Islanders.

Texas College goals and objectives

o To insure our students receive training in research methods and information skills sufficient for continuation at the graduate level.

o To provide opportunities for summer research internships and other research experiences throughout the academic year for each McNair Scholar.

o To insure that participants receive counseling and academic advisement.

o McNair participants will complete their undergraduate studies at rates higher than comparable non-participants.

o McNair Program graduates will enroll in programs of study at the graduate level at rates higher than comparable non-participants.

o McNair Participants will earn doctorates in various disciplines, including the fields of Natural and Computational Sciences, Business and Social Science and the social sciences.

How to Apply

Interested students may pick up applications at the McNair Office in the MSBC Building, Room 106, on the Texas College campus. For more information, contact Mrs. Peggy Banks, McNair Mentor Coordinator, at (903) 593-8311 Ext. 2318. Completed applications should be submitted to the same office.