University of Wisconsin Stout | Wisconsin's Polytechnic University

To be eligible to become a UW-Stout McNair Scholar, one must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

• Have at least a 3.0 overall GPA

• Have completed at least 60 semester credits*

• Demonstrate potential for and ambition to earn a doctoral degree

• Be a first-generation (that is, neither parent completed a bachelor’s degree) AND low-income (as defined by federal standards) college undergraduate OR a member of a group underrepresented in doctoral studies (including African Americans, Latino/Hispanic Americans or Native Americans).

For more information about eligibility, contact the McNair Program Director.

*One can apply prior to completing 60 credits but cannot officially become a scholar until this requirement is met.
 

The McNair Scholars program provides significant Ph.D. preparation and includes various activities to ready students for doctoral study. Participating in the program costs only time and dedication. Individual program costs are provided at no cost by the grant and include:

• Faculty advising and mentoring

• Tuition waived courses

• Assistance in selecting a research topic

• A paid summer research experience

• Assistance in preparing for the Graduate Record Examination and no charge to take the General and Subject Area examinations

• Practice, advice and support in completing and submitting graduate school applications

• Fully funded opportunities to participate and present research findings at conferences

• Opportunities to have research published in scholarly journals

• Site visits to graduate schools

Our program offers two years full of challenges, rewards and opportunities. We have high expectations for the select group of students who become UW-Stout McNair Scholars. Scholars are expected to:

• Maintain a 3.0 GPA or better

• Maintain a full-time course load

• Take part in all scheduled workshops and events

• Enroll in and successfully complete credit bearing seminars (total of 7 credits). Tuition for these credits will be waived.

• Meet regularly with  McNair advisor

• Meet regularly with faculty mentor

• Complete at least one faculty assisted research project and write a paper on the research

• Take the Graduate Record Examination

• Apply to at least 3 graduate programs

• Present findings at UW-Stout’s Research Day plus another McNair conference in the country, or at a professional conference in your discipline

• Submit an article for publication in UW-Stout’s Journal of Student Research

• Graduate from UW-Stout and immediately proceed to graduate study with the goal of attaining a Ph.D.

• Maintain contact with McNair staff after graduating from UW-Stout

This program is designed for students who are interested in becoming a McNair Scholar, but are not currently eligible due to:

• less than 60 credits completed
• GPA less than 3.0

This program will provide support to prospective McNair Scholars through regular meetings. If you are interested in the McNair Scholars Program, but not ready to fully commit to it, this is an excellent opportunity to learn more.

For more information contact the McNair Scholars Program Director, Elizabeth Barone.