Newswise — A federal grant topping $1 million will allow Boise State to continue strengthening its successful McNair Scholars program. The highly competitive Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program grant will provide $225,000 per year for the next five years.
The award comes in a year when $10 million was cut from the federal McNair budget and several schools lost their funding, pointing to the success of Boise State’s program. As of May 2012 Boise State has graduated 85 McNair students; 71 of those have gone on to enroll in a graduate program, an 83 percent success rate. Nationally that number among McNair programs is just over half.
Over the past nine years, the McNair Scholars Program at Boise State has provided opportunities for nontraditional students to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to gain admission to and funding for graduate school. It also has been a major contributor to the university’s goal of developing an undergraduate research agenda.
The new grant will allow the university to serve more students and place an increased emphasis on encouraging students in STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), a particular concern of the federal Education Department.
The McNair program serves students from groups underrepresented in graduate education and first generation college students from low-income backgrounds. It prepares these students for graduate studies through scholarly enrichment, exposure to research, and other academic experiences and opportunities.
“The scholars never cease to amaze us with their accomplishments,” said Greg Martinez, director of Boise State’s McNair Scholars Program. “The McNair Scholars experience provides students with a unique structure of support as they work to attain individual goals while also having the similar goal of getting admitted to a funded graduate program. This opportunity significantly changes their lives.”
May 2012 saw the program’s first doctoral graduate, former ASBSU president Chris Mathias. Mathias earned a Ph.D. in law, policy and society at Northeastern University. He graduated from Boise State in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and earned a JD from Vermont Law in 2007. Mathias is returning to Boise State for a temporary appointment in the Office of the President.
“For me, McNair was valuable because it provided me with the two types of support I really needed to succeed in graduate school,” Mathias said. “I obviously needed financial support because just getting into graduate school can be prohibitively expensive. But much more importantly, I needed the emotional support, the kind that constantly reaffirms you with the message that you can succeed in graduate school so long as you continue to care and work hard. I think this type of support is very important for those who may never have experienced graduate level learning as modeled, normalized behavior.”
A second student, David Estrada, will earn his Ph.D. this coming year from University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Estrada earned his undergraduate degree in electrical and computer engineering in 2007 and plans to teach for Boise State’s materials science and engineering program next year.
Media Contact: Kathleen Tuck, University Communications, (208) 426-3275, [email protected]
About Boise State UniversityAs an emerging metropolitan research university of distinction, Boise State University plays a crucial role in the region’s economic development and famed quality of life. Idaho’s largest institution of higher education offers nearly 200 degrees and certificates in seven colleges. While remaining committed to the strong teaching legacy that has resulted in 11 Idaho Professor of the Year awards since 1990, Boise State’s added emphasis on innovation and creativity is fueling the fastest growing research program in Idaho.
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