McNair scholars program

Program mission statement

The goal of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program is to increase the attainment of Ph.D.s by students from underrepresented or disadvantaged segments of society.

The McNair Scholars Program at Murray State seeks to help undergraduate students achieve their full potential by encouraging eligible students, in all disciplines, to pursue a Ph.D. The McNair Scholars Program prepares eligible undergraduate students for doctoral study through involvement in research and other scholarly activities.

Participation in the McNair program is open to full-time undergraduates, who have demonstrated strong academic potential, and are from first-generation-college, low-income families or from traditionally underrepresented groups.

McNair Scholars have a unique opportunity to engage in an in-depth, faculty-guided research project that gives them an edge when applying to graduate school. In addition to funding for the scholar’s research project, participants also receive opportunities for academic counseling, financial aid, tutoring, seminars and graduate school visits to prepare for graduate study.

McNair Program participants are part of a supportive community which includes other scholars and staff members are dedicated to seeing Scholars be successful and achieve their goals.

Murray State McNair program

Murray State McNair Scholars Grant Program began in 2003 and was administered through 2007. Murray State’s current four-year grant award was announced August 25, 2009 as a part of 6.3 million dollars in grants issued by the Department of Education. The Murray State McNair Program serves at least twenty-five students each year.