CWU Reactivates McNair Scholars Program

October 18, 2007

ELLENSBURG, Wash.-- Central Washington University received great news from the offices of U.S. Senator Patty Murray and U.S. Congressman Doc Hastings. The university will receive $220,000 a year for five years from the U.S. Department of Education to reactivate its Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, which was named after the African American astronaut who died in the space shuttle Challenger accident in 1986.

The federally funded program is designed to recruit and prepare low-income, first-generation students and eligible minority students for doctoral study. Students in the program learn about the elements required for doctoral study, begin the planning process for doctoral study, develop research skills with hands-on experience, and receive help facilitating their application and admission into graduate schools. The McNair Scholars Program accepts 25 promising undergraduate students each year.

Central implemented its first of three consecutive McNair Scholars Programs in 1993. Numerous graduates of CWU's McNair Scholars Program have successfully earned doctoral degrees. The program served between 10 and 15 CWU students a year between 1993 and 2003.

"By providing opportunities to economically disadvantaged and underrepresented minority students, the program increases their access to doctoral-level programs and placement in careers requiring advanced degrees," says Wayne Quirk, CWU associate vice president of graduate studies and research. "Without the services and mentoring relationships provided by the McNair Scholars Program, many talented students would never realize their potential for graduate study and doctoral completion. "

The primary goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to increase the number of first-generation and underrepresented students at the Ph.D. level, increasing their percentage in the pool of faculty available to teach and conduct research in colleges and universities.

"The McNair award is important on many levels. The first, of course, is pairing talented students with outstanding faculty mentors to provide the appropriate training and education for students to be prepared for advanced study," explains Jerilyn S. McIntyre, CWU president. "For the university, having Central Washington University referred to as a McNair institution brings an important distinction to our campus."

Those interested in applying for the program must meet certain eligibility requirements including being first-generation, low-income or minority students. They also must demonstrate potential for graduate study, have completed at least 90 credit hours and have received a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. To ensure the development of high quality research skills, program participants work directly with faculty mentors. The experience culminates with a presentation and the publication of their undergraduate research project.

Teri Olin, CWU Public Relations & Marketing, olint@cwu.edu, 509-963-1416.

Central Washington University is a master's degree-granting institution with approximately 10,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff. More than 160 undergraduate and master's degrees are offered. Founded in 1891, the Ellensburg campus is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. Since 1975, CWU has served the needs of place bound students at six university centers throughout the state.