The College of Charleston has been selected as one of three South Carolina colleges or universities to host the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. The goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to increase the number of students from underrepresented segments of society who will ultimately earn a Ph.D. degree, thereby adding to the diversity of higher education faculty. The four-year renewable TRIO grant from the U.S. Department of Education provides $220,000 in federal funds each year to help 25 low-income, first-generation college students, and/or undergraduates who are from a population group that is underrepresented in graduate education, prepare for and succeed in doctoral programs.
The College of Charleston McNair Scholars Program will provide special opportunities to academically promising undergraduate students who have an interest in attending graduate school and completing their PhD. Each year, 25 undergraduate students will receive special preparation for doctoral programs. Preparation will include a summer research experience, service learning, coursework, a workshop series and advising to prepare these students for successful completion of graduate degrees. Services provided under the McNair Scholars Program include the opportunity to engage in academic research, mentoring, academic advising and non-credit workshops, as well as assistance with securing admission to, as well as financial support for, enrollment in graduate level and doctoral programs. Students will receive a stipend linked to the accomplishment of specific academic milestones. Once they have successfully completed the program, they will be eligible for special graduate scholarships and fellowships at universities across the country.
To be considered for acceptance into the McNair Scholars Program, students must be College of Charleston undergraduates who have earned at least 60 credit hours, have a 2.75 GPA or higher, and plan to pursue a Ph.D. They must also be low-income (as defined by the U.S. Department of Education), first-generation college students or be from a population group that is underrepresented in graduate education.
The College has hosted TRIO’s Upward Bound program for more than 30 years.
For more information, contact program coordinator Carrie Ben-Yisrael at 843-953-5660 or McNair@cofc.edu or click here.
