Frequently Asked Questions

Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program

Q. Who is Ronald McNair?
A. Dr. Ronald E. McNair, a laser physics expert, was one of the
Challenger astronauts who died in 1986. Congress authorized the
funding of the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement
Program that same year. The first McNair Scholars programs began
in 1989; Cal Poly Pomona’s McNair program was funded in 1999.
These programs are administered by the U.S. Department of
Education and are part of the TRIO family of programs.

Q. Is this a scholarship?
A. This is a research internship. Compensation is a research
scholarship of as much as $2800 paid out over a year’s time and
based on achieving certain goals and accomplishments.

Q. Can anyone apply?
A. Yes, but not everyone is eligible. Those who are eligible are:
* fulltime Cal Poly Pomona juniors and seniors with a 3.0 or higher GPA;
* U.S. citizens or permanent residents;
* first-generation college students with a demonstrated financial need,
* or members of an underrepresented group in graduate studies.
The most qualified candidates will possess a strong desire to earn a doctoral degree.

Q. Are all majors eligible?
A. Our target colleges are Agriculture, Engineering, Science, CEIS,
and CLASS. If a student from another major has a strong interest
in research and has a faculty member experienced in research
willing to mentor her or him, that student’s application will be
considered. The research project for the program should involve
statistical analysis.

Q. How long can someone be a McNair Scholar?
A. One to two years.

Q. Can a student participate in other internship programs while
being a Scholar?
A. Yes, as long as there is no duplication of services, and as long as
it does not conflict with the requirements of a McNair Scholar
Candidate. For example, students in the HHMI program cannot be
paid twice for the same research.

Q. What is involved in being a Scholar?
A. During the winter and spring quarters, Scholars attend the
McNair research class several times a quarter, work with the
faculty mentors preparing the research proposal and literature
review, and begin the research. During the summer, the Scholar
participates in an intensive six-week summer research program,
which includes a symposium at Cal Poly Pomona where scholars
present their research and usually culminates with the McNair
Symposium at UC Berkeley. During the fall quarter, Scholars again
attend the research class and participate in workshops designed to
assist them in applying for graduate school.

Q. Can a student take summer classes while being a Scholar?
A. We strongly discourage students from taking classes during the
summer because the program is so intensive. A first-year Scholar
may take no more than one class that does not conflict with the
workshops. A second-year Scholar’s request to take classes will be
considered on a case-by-case basis.

Q. What is required of faculty mentors?
A. Faculty mentors usually meet with their scholar candidates for
ten hours per quarter on average, and more during the summer. In
order to receive payment, mentors must also go to the Cal Poly
Pomona Foundation to fill out appropriate tax paperwork and will
need to keep track of their hours with Kronos, the Foundation
online time clock.

Q. What if the faculty mentor is not available during the summer?
A. Another mentor should be considered because each mentor
must participate and be available while the Scholar conducts the
research and prepares for the symposium.

Q. How many letters of recommendation are required?
A. Three faculty letters are required, and two must be from faculty
in the student’s major.

Q. What else is required to apply?
A. All other questions can be answered during the information
sessions.