The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program

• Federally-funded TRiO grant program named for one of the Space Shuttle Challenger's astronauts, Dr. Ronald E. McNair
• Encourages low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented undergraduates to pursue graduate studies

The overall goal of the McNair Program is to increase the number of students from these populations that attain a traditional, research-based Ph.D. (McNair does not prepare students for a professional dregree).  The intent is to honor the high standards of achievement demonstrated by Dr. McNair.

McNair at Iowa State

The first McNair grant was awarded to Iowa State University in 1995 under the administration of Dr. George A. Jackson who wrote the successful proposal. Dr. Jackson, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, at the time, had already been awarded the grant for the TRiO Student Support Services Program at Iowa State. Over the next 20+ years, the McNair Program at Iowa State has served over 500 students.