Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program

University at Buffalo

In 1986, the U.S. Congress authorized the establishment of The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program.  The McNair Program is designed to prepare highly talented undergraduates, principally those from low income backgrounds and families with no previous college graduates or underrepresented minorities, to pursue doctoral degrees and to increase the number of individuals from these backgrounds on college and university faculties.  The program addresses the serious shortage of doctoral recipients among these groups of Americans.

The McNair Program is built upon the implicit assumption that doctoral education for the nation’s low income and underrepresented groups is linked, at least in part, to establishing a pipeline at the undergraduate level.  It assumes further that a solid provision of tools of inquiry and study during the undergraduate years will significantly increase graduate school admission, retention and graduation rates among these talented groups of students.                                                                                  

The McNair Program is named in honor of Ronald E. McNair, the African American Challenger astronaut, who came from a low income family in South Carolina.  He graduated magna cum laude in Physics from North Carolina A&T State University in 1971.  He received his Ph.D. in Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976, at the age of 26.  Ronald McNair was the first in his family to graduate from college, let alone to earn a Ph.D.  His academic and subsequent career successes, dimmed only by his untimely death, serve as a beacon to the current generation of college students who, for many reasons, may feel that graduate education in general and the doctoral degree in particular are inaccessible. 

There are currently over 200 McNair programs across the country.  The University at Buffalo’s McNair Program has at least 30 students each year and selects students in various majors that lead to doctoral study.  During the Fall and Spring semesters, we bring special speakers to campus.  We offer free GRE preparatory classes as well as workshops to assist students in achieving their goal of attending graduate school.  Scholars are able to participate in graduate school trips and present research at professional conferences.  There are faculty and graduate student mentors available to provide even more support.  McNair Scholars also have access to supplies germane to research and presentations. Students are encouraged to borrow computer laptops during the academic year.  There are other supplies available for student presentations.

In addition to our regular semester programs, we sponsor an eight week summer research program for students.  Students must conduct research under the direction of a faculty mentor while in the McNair Scholars Program.  Upon completion of their summer research program, participants produce an extensive research paper or poster and are strongly encouraged to conduct research throughout the academic year.

The McNair Program also provides its members with graduate school advising in order to better prepare them for all aspects of the process.  Also, students are encouraged to bring drafts of their resumes, personal statements, and application forms to the McNair staff for suggestions and improvements.

Many universities across the country waive their graduate school application fees for McNair Scholars.   The program’s ultimate goal is to support students in whatever way we can to provide for their successful entry and continued success in doctoral programs.