Initiatives for McNair Scholars

Waiver of application fees
McNair Scholars can receive a waiver of application fees by providing certification from their local McNair program director.

Applying for McNair assistant positions
The Graduate School has endowment funds to support five graduate assistant positions for McNair Scholars. If your department admits a McNair Scholar before April 1, you can submit the scholar’s credentials for one of these awards. This award does not count as part of your department’s assistant allocation.

You’ll need to provide the following information to have an applicant considered: 

• A brief letter from the program advisor highlighting the candidate’s strengths and duties as an assistant. If you can show how these duties fit with the applicant’s personal career goals, you’ll have a stronger case. 
• A copy of the student’s credentials including transcripts, scores on the Graduate Record Exam or other standardized tests, personal statement, copies of reference letters originally submitted for application, and verification the student is a McNair Scholar.

McNair graduate assistants receive the same stipends as other graduate assistants in the department and must attend school full time. The position is for one year only and cannot be renewed.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. April 1. If funds exist after that date, the Graduate School will review applicants on a rolling admission basis until all positions are filled.