What is the McNair Scholars Program?

The McNair Scholars Program is named after the late Ronald E. McNair who perished on the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. Dr. McNair stands as a strong inspiration to all of our scholars as an individual who achieved great heights, both personally and professionally. Dr. McNair earned a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in physics in 1976.

The McNair Scholars Program aims to successfully prepare scholars for entrance into graduate school. The ultimate goal of the program is for our scholars to achieve a PhD within 10 years of graduating from Wayne State University. The  program is federally funded through the Department of Education and provides academic/mentoring services for low-income, first generation college students and/or those considered underrepresented in higher education, based on ethnic background.

The main components of the program include

• Conducting original research under the guidance of a faculty mentor
• Receiving training in writing, communication and graduate school preparation
• Financial support and travel opportunities that include presenting research at conferences
• Visiting top-choice graduate schools and attending cultural activities.

The McNair Program is rigorous and requires that students take the McNair commitment seriously. Each year, we recruit a new group of scholars who move through the process during their junior and senior years, preparing themselves for graduate study and setting off to achieve doctorates in their area/field of interest once they complete their undergraduate degrees at WSU.