The Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program strives to increase the number of doctoral degrees awarded to students from low-income, first-generation and underrepresented groups.  The program pairs academically promising undergraduate scholars with graduate faculty mentors, who advise them as they develop, conduct and publicly present original research projects.
The McNair Graduate Fellowship program encourages McNair Scholars who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree and who demonstrate high excellence to attend graduate school.
There will be three McNair Graduate Fellowships awarded for the 2011-2012 academic year.  Academic units participating in the Graduate Enrollment Management (GrEM) project can nominate incoming graduate students for the award.  Previously awarded McNair Fellowships will remain in effect; however, the availability of additional McNair Fellowships following the 2011-2012 academic year is undetermined.
The Award
The McNair Fellowship is a multi-year award based on the student’s degree program (master’s or doctoral).  Each award includes: 

• A $5000 stipend supplement for 4 years (doctoral students);
• A $2,500 stipend supplement for 2 years (master’s students);
• A 0.50 FTE Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantship;
• A full tuition waiver for the total number of hours required to complete the degree;
• A subsidy for the basic student health insurance plan;
• Continuation of the award is contingent upon the student making satisfactory progress towards the degree and the academic unit’s ongoing commitment to provide a 0.50 GTE Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantship.

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for nomination an applicant must:

• Hold a Qualified Graduate Assistantship in a GrEM academic unit on the Norman campus;
• Successfully have completed an undergraduate McNair Scholars Program;
• Have at least a 3.50 admission grade point average.

Nomination Process
Nomination materials should be submitted to the Graduate College, attention: Clarissa Dobrinski, by the application deadline (see below).  Nomination materials must include:

• Nomination request, student and faculty performance contract, and letter of support from the academic unit chair (NOTE: the academic unit’s overall enrollment plan must be submitted to the Graduate College before the fellowship nomination will be consideration);
• The applicant’s name.
• A copy of the application packet (include University, Graduate College, and department admission materials);
• Verification of completion of an undergraduate McNair Scholars Program;
• Verification of assistantship;
• Letter of support from the chair of the academic unit.

Selection Process
An ad hoc committee will review the nominations following the spring deadline and recommend recipient(s) to the Graduate Dean. 
Application Deadline           February 15 and March 15
(A total of three awards will be made for the 2011-2012 academic year.  Students nominated for the February 15 deadline will not be reconsidered for the March 15 deadline.)