$1.2 million DOE grant continues McNair Achievement Program
By Cheryl Reed, Graduate School
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University has been awarded a $1.2 million U.S. Department of Education grant for the McNair Achievement Program for five years, according to Raymond Herrera, director of the program.
This is the fifth consecutive McNair grant awarded to WSU Pullman.
As one of eight federal TRIO programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, the McNair Achievement Program prepares undergraduate first-generation/low-income and underrepresented students for doctoral studies. Since 1998, WSU McNair has prepared nearly 300 undergraduates for graduate school. Herrera was named director of the program in 2009.
“The McNair grant competition is highly competitive,” says Herrera. “We are fortunate to have the support of our faculty mentors, university offices and support programs that assist us in putting forth a successful grant proposal, and carrying out the McNair mission. The WSU Graduate School is honored to host such an important program. McNair is a successful program in many ways, including diversifying our graduate student and faculty ranks. We have many WSU McNair alumni who are now faculty at universities across the country. ”
The McNair Achievement Program at WSU has been highly successful, supporting on average 30 students each year. Administered through the Graduate School, the program provides undergraduate McNair scholars opportunities to participate in academic year and summer research activities. Students also participate in courses, seminars, and workshops related to graduate school preparation and present their research at national conferences.
McNair Achievement Alumni are sought by graduate schools because of their achievement and preparation as undergraduates. Currently, the WSU Graduate School has 32 McNair alumni from other universities who are pursuing doctoral studies at WSU and who also participate in mentoring activities for the undergraduate McNair scholars.
More information about the WSU McNair Scholars program is at http://mcnair.wsu.edu.
Contacts:
- Raymond Herrera, Director of McNair Scholars Program, Graduate school, 509-335-7702, raymond@wsu.edu
- Cheryl Reed, director of communications, Graduate School, 509-335-7717, reed@wsu.edu
