McNair Scholars Program Application 2023

Named for physicist and astronaut Dr. Ronald E. McNair, the program is designed to increase Ph.D. awards for students from underrepresented/underserved populations in graduate school. This program assists undergraduate junior and seniors in the attainment of their educational and professional goals through participation in research and other scholarly activities.

The McNair Scholars Program is a federally-funded TRIO program with many eligibility requirements. Please contact program director, Ms. Robin Melton at robin.melton@uta.edu with questions about the program, eligibility, and/or the application.
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For eligibility:

-You must be low income (according to federal definitions) AND be a "first generation college student" (parents/legal guardians did not complete a four-year degree, or you were a ward of the court after age 13)

-OR be a member of a group that is underrepresented in graduate education, defined as the following: Black or African American, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders.

YOU MUST ALSO:

• have a strong desire to obtain a PhD
• be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• be currently enrolled as a first-time, full-time on-campus undergraduate in a degree program at UTA
• be at least a sophomore but not graduating before Dec 2024
• have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA
• have 1-2 letters of recommendation from professor(s) [not staff members]

Note: This is a competitive application process; eligibility does not guarantee admittance into the program.

RECOMMENDATION(S):

In addition to completing this form, you must have at least one recommendation from a professor. We accept up to two recommendations. Students who transferred to UTA in Fall 2023 can have a recommendation from their previous institution; otherwise, letters should come from UTA professors. After you have spoken with a professor who has agreed to recommend you, have them email the recommendations to robin.melton@uta.edu and cc rosa.palacio@uta.edu with the email title: McNair Scholars Applicant: Student name.

To verify your eligibility, please bring a copy of your student aid report (SAR) to NH 246.