The TRIO McNair Scholars Program is a graduate school preparatory program funded by the U.S. Department of Education and sponsored by St. Olaf College. The TRIO McNair Program was founded in 1989 and initiated at St. Olaf College in 2007. Nationally there are 200 McNair programs working with over 5,000 students.
The federally mandated goal of McNair is to increase the number of low-income and first-generation students who participate in undergraduate research, graduate with a B.A., and immediately enter and complete graduate school, with a specific focus on obtaining a Ph.D.
Participants
- Annually, 28 undergraduates participate in the St. Olaf TRIO McNair Scholars Program.
- Participants meet federal income guidelines and are from a family in which neither parent graduated from a four-year postsecondary educational institution.
- Participants have completed at least 2 courses in their area of research interest and have a GPA of 2.75 or higher.
Services
The TRIO McNair Program provides opportunities for participants to develop graduate school level skills necessary to gain admission to and complete graduate study. Scholars receive assistance with:
- Proactive academic and personal advising
- On or off-campus internship/research placement – summer of sophomore year to explore fields of study
- On-campus research experience – participants are paired with a faculty mentor in their field
- Summer research writing class (one credit & WAC)
- Preparation for graduate school admissions tests
- Graduate school search, grad visits and application assistance
- Financial aid, fellowship, and scholarship application assistance
Objectives and Outcomes
All TRIO McNair projects must meet the federally approved program objectives each academic year. Following are the St. Olaf TRIO McNair objectives: Objective 1: 90% of participants will complete research or scholarly activities each academic year. Objective 2: 40% of B.A. recipients will enroll in graduate school immediately following graduation. Objective 3: 80% of first-year graduate students will continue to be enrolled in graduate school. Objective 4: 10% of participants will attain a Ph.D. within ten years. (Click here for the St. Olaf TRIO McNair Scholars Program Roster (2007-Present).
St. Olaf TRIO McNair Alumni Summary (2007-2024)
- 207 Students Served Since 2007
- 63% of McNair graduates are enrolled or have completed graduate school
- 41% of students have completed or are enrolled in a Master’s program
- 22% of students have completed or enrolled in a Ph.D. or MD program
- 32% have completed or enrolled in a graduate program in STEM
- 34% of Scholars who enroll in graduate school, enroll immediately after graduation
- Over 85 St. Olaf Faculty have served as Research Mentors
McNair Scholars Faculty Mentors
McNair faculty mentors are professors from all disciplines at St. Olaf College and are interested in guiding summer research experiences with high potential, first-generation undergraduates. McNair Scholars faculty members are recognized by colleagues and students as exceptional professors and campus leaders.
(Dr. Seth Binder and Anthony Calderon Reyes – Summer 2024.)
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The St. Olaf TRIO McNair staff are members of the McNair Association of Professionals, Minnesota TRIO Association, Educational Opportunity Association, and the Council for Opportunity in Education. St. Olaf College is also an awarded First Gen Forward Institution.
Support Resources: St. Olaf College prohibits all forms of unlawful discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Director of Equal Opportunity. The notice of nondiscrimination is located at https://wp.stolaf.edu/
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