Learn about the UI McNair Program
Before applying to become a UI McNair Program Scholar, please read the following page, which provides information about:
Each year, nine University of Iowa undergraduates will be competitively appointed to the UI McNair Scholars Program as “Iowa Scholars.” In addition, eighteen undergraduates from outside the University of Iowa will be competitively appointed to the UI McNair Scholars Program as “Visiting Scholars” each year. Students must submit a completed application for review by the UI McNair Program Advisory Committee. Eligible candidates are required to:
- hold “junior” standing toward completion of the bachelor’s degree. (UI students hold junior standing upon completing 59 hours; non-UI students will refer to their institution's standard for junior-year status.)
- have achieved a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average (GPA; based on a 4.0 point scale).
- have a stated goal of achieving a doctoral degree (Ph.D.), following completion of the bachelor’s degree.
- be a citizen or national of the U.S.; or be a permanent resident of the U.S.; or provide evidence from the Immigration and Naturalization Service of his/her intent to become a permanent resident; or be a permanent resident of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; or be a resident of one of the Freely Associated States. (These citizenship rules are defined by the U.S. Department of Education.)
- be a low-income individual1 who is a first-generation college student2; or be a member of a group that is underrepresented3 in graduate education.
1 A low-income individual is defined by the U.S. Department of Education as an individual whose family’s taxable income did not exceed 150% of the poverty level in the calendar year preceding the year in which the individual participates in the project. Poverty level income is determined by using criteria of poverty established by the Bureau of the Census of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
2 A first-generation college student is defined by the U.S. Department of Education as 1) a student neither of whose natural or adoptive parents received a baccalaureate degree; or 2) a student who, prior to the age of 18, regularly resided with and received support from only one parent, and whose supporting parent did not receive a baccalaureate degree; or
3) an individual who, prior to the age of 18, did not regularly reside with or receive support from a natural or an adoptive parent.3 An underrepresented student is defined by the U.S. Department of Education (e.g., African-American, Hispanic / Latino, American Indian / Alaskan Native; or a member of a group that is underrepresented in certain academic disciplines as documented by standard statistical references or other national survey data submitted to and accepted by the U.S. Department of Education on a case-by-case basis).
You will benefit from a structured set of scholarly activities designed to enhance your academic success as well as to expose and encourage you to target a new vista – graduate education and the doctoral degree. You will attend a series of seminars, workshops, and informal gatherings to better inform you about graduate opportunities. These events will provide information and encourage dialogue between you, your faculty mentors, your graduate student mentors, and McNair staff. These discussions will facilitate your understanding of what it means to be a graduate student and to encourage you to consider the opportunity of joining the professoriate as a faculty member in the future. UI McNair Scholars will participate in the following activities and receive the following benefits:
- McNair Scholar Workshops – academic &
professional development
- McNair Q&A Discovery Groups – conversations
with scientists
- McNair Scholars Journal Clubs & Seminars – read and hear about cutting-edge research
- 8-week intensive Summer Research Experience – at the lab bench
- $3,200 summer stipend + room & board1 + transportation to/from Iowa2
1 Non-UI students will be provided with room and board in a UI dormitory for completion of the 8-week summer research experience.
2 Non-UI students will be reimbursed for transportation to/from Iowa for completion of the 8-week summer research experience.
- attendance/participation at the UI Summer Undergraduate Research conference
- attendance/participation at the annual
CIC/SROP conference
- mentorship in completing your graduate school applications
- access to New Dimensions in Learning, which provides academic planning counseling, personal advising, workshops, study skill assistance, and tutorials
UI McNair Scholars will fulfill all program requirements. These requirements are designed to enhance and maximize the success of our students in completion of their undergraduate studies and achievement of their goal for pursuing and attaining a doctoral degree.
- Complete a self-assessment profile to identify strengths and areas for improvement; identify a goal and a plan of study to achieve your benchmark to demonstrate improvement.
- Complete an academic assessment profile to identify strengths and areas for improvement; identify a goal and a plan of study to achieve your benchmark to demonstrate improvement.
- Attend and actively participate in all UI McNair Scholar Workshops – prepare for graduate school from the application process through the transition to a challenging graduate education environment.
- Attend and actively participate in all UI McNair Q&A Discovery Group sessions – speak with UI faculty, postdoctoral, and graduate student researchers to gain a fuller understanding of your chosen career path.
- Attend and participate in all UI McNair Journal Clubs & Seminars – prior to each seminar, students will read a related scientific paper by the speaker’s research group and discuss the findings in a mentored journal club setting.
- Attend and participate in all GRE preparation workshops – improve your skills and learn new skills to achieve more competitive GRE scores.
- During the summer research internship, students will spend 35+ hours in your mentor’s research laboratory conducting a scholarly research project. You will work closely with your faculty mentor and other personnel in the lab. You will meet regularly with your mentor and participate in lab meetings to ensure progress on your research project.
- Complete a brief summary report describing your research project and its outcomes.
- Present your research at the annual UI Summer Undergraduate Research Conference.
- Attend and present your research at the annual CIC SROP Research Conference.