The Boston College Learning to Learn Office has been awarded $1.15 million for five years to support the academic and post-graduate plans of first-generation college students through the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program.
Funded by TRIO grants from the U.S. Department of Education, the McNair Program provides eligible participants with opportunities to enhance academic and research skills that will enable their matriculation at top graduate programs.
The McNair Program prepares low-income, first-generation and underrepresented minorities pursue degrees beyond the bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on attaining doctoral degrees. The program provides academic services that include a summer research component, GRE preparation, graduate school application process, conference participation and faculty mentoring.
Boston College in one of three universities in Massachusetts, and among 161 institutions across the country, to be selected for the McNair Program. In the 14 years since the University established its McNair Program, four BC alumni have completed doctoral degrees, and eight are currently enrolled in PhD programs. In addition, more than 60 percent of program participants enroll in graduate education.
The program is named in honor of Ronald E. McNair, an American physicist and astronaut, and the second African American to go to space. McNair was one of seven crew members who died during the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger.
–University Communications