Program opens world for low income students

California State University Sacramento will initiate a McNair Scholars Program this semester to help low-income, first-generation in college and underrepresented students achieve success at post-baccalaureate level.

The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Grant funded for four years for a total of $760,000, by the US Department of Education as part of the federal TRIO Grants.

“This is an exciting new program for our students,” said Isabel Hernandez-Serna, assistant vice president for academic affairs, educational equity and student retention.

With financial support from this program, students can develop their potential to the fullest and seize the opportunity to move on to advanced studies, Hernandez-Serna said.

Each year, 12 juniors and 12 seniors will be selected to participate in a range of support services.

Students will attend a one-unit research and methodology techniques course and meet with faculty mentors to prepare for summer research projects. The students will receive a $2,400 stipend to conduct summer research projects and travel to research conferences or institutions in and out of state.

Senior participants will be assisted in taking graduate admission exams, writing statements of purpose, applying for graduate programs and obtaining financial aid.

McNair scholars can publish their research projects in the McNair Scholars Journal or showcase their works at statewide and national academic conferences.

“One of the benefits of the program is that our students receive personalized assistance by faculty members with their research projects in their area of study,” Chevelle Newsome, McNair program faculty coordinator.

By conducting graduate-level research during undergraduate years, students will become more competitive in their advanced studies, Hernandez-Serna said.

A study by the national McNair program has indicated that McNair participants enroll in programs of study at the graduate level and earn doctorate degrees in various disciplines at higher rates than comparable non-participants.

The McNair Scholar Program is named after the late Dr. Ronald E. McNair, who died in the Challenger space disaster. It is a federally funded program with 109 sites at universities across the country.

CSUS has become the fourth recipient of this grant in the CSU system, along with San Jose State, San Diego State and Cal State Fullerton.

Program participation targets only low-income, first-generation college students, or students from groups which are underrepresented in graduate education; for example, disabled students of all majors, women wanting to attend math and science graduate programs, or men who are interested in a nursing program.

To apply, a student must also be junior or senior status, with a 3.0 or better GPA, and willing to commit to the requirements of the program.

The deadline to apply for this academic year is Oct.15. The recruitment for 2000-2001 will start in the spring.

For additional information and applications, contact the Office of Education Equity & Student Retention, Lassen Hall 3014, at 278-6859.