The Truman State University Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program is a U.S. Department of Education-funded initiative that honors the life and legacy of Dr. Ronald E. McNair. Awarded in 5-year cycles through a competitive grant application process, our funding sustains program services designed to support and empower students to achieve academic, professional, and personal success. 

Eligibility

Due to the small numbers of first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented students in the U.S. every year who enroll in or complete graduate degree programs, our grant mandates that we select participants who meet the following eligibility criteria: 

1. be enrolled as a full- or part-time student at Truman State University;
2. be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident; AND
3. be a first-generation college student, defined by the U.S. Department of Education as individuals who, prior to the age of 18, have not resided with or received primary support from a parent/guardian with a 4-year college degree; AND be a student from a low-income background whose family’s/household’s taxable income for the calendar year prior to their application to our McNair Program falls within these annual guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Education

OR

• be a student identified by the U.S. Department of Education as historically and currently underrepresented in graduate education: Black (non-Hispanic), Hispanic, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiians, and/or Native American Pacific Islanders.2

Successful applicants will demonstrate intellectual curiosity, desire to learn, and motivation/persistence toward long-term academic goals such as graduate study.

NOTE: Please consult with our Programming Specialist, Jeremy Freese, before making a final decision about whether or not to apply. We have had students self-select out of opportunities McNair provides without realizing they were eligible to participate!

Application Info

McNair Scholars Program applications for the 24-25 school year are now open! The priority deadline is Sunday, November 10, 2024. All complete applications received by 11:59 PM are guaranteed to be reviewed. Other applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Faculty reference and parent/guardian tax forms (if applicable) are due by 11:59 PM on Friday, November 15, 2024.

Before beginning the application we recommend each student fill out the McNair Scholars Program Interest Form to let us know you are interested and to complete an eligibility requirements precheck.

Complete and submit the following required sections of the McNair application:
STUDENT APPLICATION LINK

APPLICATION IS LIVE & ACCESSIBLE FROM THE LINK ABOVE

• Students should complete and submit the application. Upon applying, emails will be auto-generated and sent to the applicant’s recommender with links to submit the other required components:

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FORM (to be completed by faculty recommender) – DUE

• Upon applying, emails will be auto-generated and sent to the applicant’s recommender with links to submit the other required components. Please ensure that your recommender is aware of this and that you inform them of the process.

***PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S) HOUSEHOLD INCOME FORM ((if applicable – to be completed by the parent(s)/guardian(s))

• Upon applying, emails will be auto-generated and sent to the parent/guardian email that you entered to request them to complete the form.

NOTE: Your application to McNair is not complete until we receive the faculty recommendation and the parent(s)/guardian(s) household income form (if applicable). 

¹If you have any questions or concerns about your income status, please contact us. 

²On a case-by-case basis a member of a group that is not listed above that is underrepresented in certain academic disciplines as documented by standard statistical references or other national survey data could be eligible for McNair. 

³Admission into McNair is competitive, but applicants are encouraged to contact the McNair staff to discuss specific circumstances. If you are working on correcting a grade, or feel that your GPA will be above a 3.00 by the end of the fall semester you should apply for the Program.

***Not required for all applicants. Please read the instructions for providing your income information on the application.