Center for Research and Learning

McNair

McNair at IUPUI Overview Eligibility Requirements Application Instructions Application Forms Calendar Research Seminar Syllabus Searching for Past McNair Members

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If you have any questions about the McNair program at IUPUI, please contact the Associate Director, Vicki Gayfield.

McNair Eligibility

The application deadline is March 1st each year.

To be eligible to participate in the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program a student must meet the following requirements:

1. Completion of the sophomore year before summer
2. Underrepresented minority in higher education/or first generation, low income college student
3. Overall GPA 2.8
4. Major GPA 3.0

Students who meet criteria 2-4 and are participants in the IUPUI Student Support Services Program or the IUPUI Diversity Scholars Research Program may receive early admission during their sophomore year to participate in McNair activities.

The terms “underrepresented minority” and “first generation, low income college student” are explained below.

Students who meet the eligibility criteria above will be selected for interviews and then admitted to the program based on evaluation and ranking of academic credentials, career aspirations, faculty and other recommendations, and assessment of the student’s likelihood to pursue and succeed in graduate education, made primarily from the interview.

The Ronald E. McNair Program is a federally funded effort to increase the numbers of low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students who pursue the Ph.D. and seek careers in research and teaching in higher education. The eligibility criteria are the same for URSP/M Scholars.

First generation college student
The term first generation college student means-- (A) an individual both of whose parents did not complete a baccalaureate degree; or (B) in the case of any individual who regularly resided with and received support from only one parent, an individual whose only such parent did not complete a baccalaureate degree.

Low-income Individuals
The term "low-income individual" means an individual from a family whose taxable income for the preceding tax year did not exceed 150 percent of an amount equal to the poverty status defined by the federal government each year (see table below).

Financial Eligibility (Low Income Status)
(Effective January 23, 2009 Until Further Notice)

Size of Family Unit	48 Contiguous States, D.C. and Outlying Jurisdictions	Alaska	Hawaii
1	$16,245	$20,295	$18,690
2	$21,855	$27,315	$25,140
3	$27,465	$34,335	$31,590
4	$33,075	$41,355	$38,040
5	$38,685	$48,375	$44,490
6	$44,295	$55,395	$50,940
7	$49,905	$62,415	$57,390
8	$55,515	$69,435	$63,840

For family units with more than eight members, add the following amount for each additional family member: $5,610 for the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia and outlying jurisdictions; $7,020 for Alaska; and $6,450 for Hawaii.

The term "low-income individual" means an individual whose family's taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent of the poverty level amount.

The figures shown under family income represent amounts equal to 150 percent of the family income levels established by the Census Bureau for determining poverty status. The poverty guidelines were published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Federal Register, Vol. 74, No. 14, January 23, 2009, pp. 4,199-4,201.