A $1.35 million U.S. Department of Education grant will fund the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program through LSU University College for another five years.
The program, which has been in existence for 20 years, helps undergraduates who are first-generation college students, students with financial needs or students who are ethnically underrepresented to prepare for doctoral education, said Joseph Givens, director of the McNair program.
“The purpose of this program is to increase the number of Ph.D. students,” Givens said.
He said most of the students are recruited their sophomore year, and 11 to 14 of them are chosen each year to receive research instruction and summer stipends to work in labs. The scholars receive “insider knowledge” about how to apply to graduate schools, he said.
“Being a McNair scholar is being connected to peers and being connected to campus in a connected way,” Givens said. “It’s not all about workshops. It’s about relationships.”
McNair scholar Aaron Spooner, physics senior, said the University College faculty creates a “welcoming environment,” and he has learned presentation skills.
“What I benefitted the most from being a McNair scholar is being able to travel and present my research to different institutions, both domestic and abroad,” he said after working on a lab report.
Jas Sullivan, political science professor, said he taught a research methods course to the scholars over the summer.
“I think the whole purpose of the program is to prepare them for graduate school and part of the discussion and conventions is always geared toward getting them ready for the research process,” Sullivan said.
During summer, students are provided a stipend, housing and a meal plan to take courses and research in labs, Givens said.
“They don’t have a lot of resources for college. A lot of students at LSU have to work their way through school,” Givens said. “Instead of spending their summer bussing tables or working at Office Depot, they can spend their summer doing research.”
Givens said the program “transform[s] lives.” He said he is proud of the McNair scholar alumni and their post-graduation works.
“You see a student coming in nervous about their education, not sure about where they’re going to go,” Givens said. “They’ve written scientific papers. … Some have patents.”
