CGS is connected with the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program through the Council of Graduate Schools/Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) Joint McNair Committee.

Named in honor of the astronaut who died in the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, McNair is one of the TRIO programs funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. It is designed to encourage and prepare low-income, first-generation in college, and minority students to pursue doctoral degrees and careers in college teaching. It represents the largest and best pipeline of potential graduate students from these groups in the nation.

The CGS/COE Joint McNair Committee distributes an annual directory of McNair Scholars to CGS member institutions, promotes application fee waivers for McNair Scholars, and regularly communicates with CGS members about McNair news, events, and grant competitions. 

Graduate Schools Providing McNair Fee Waivers. For a list of graduate schools that provide application fee waivers and other financial incentives for McNair students, click here.

McNair Scholars Directory. The McNair Scholars Directory contains the names of McNair Scholars from around the country with graduation dates scheduled for 2011 through spring 2013. For directions for downloading the password-protected directory from the COE website, click here. Instructions for accessing the directory are also sent to CGS members each fall.

McNair E-mail Discussion List. CGS members with graduate opportunities, recruitment, or meeting information of interest to the McNair community may forward this information for posting on the McNair E-mail Discussion List. Send the message to: rsowell@cgs.nche.edu. All pertinent contact information should be included in the message. Only individuals affiliated with McNair programs may subscribe to the discussion list.

For more information about the CGS/COE Joint McNair Committee, please contact:

Robert Sowell