McNair Scholars Program at California Lutheran University

The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program provides underrepresented, first-generation, and low income students with resources, guidance, and support that leads them on the path towards earning doctoral degrees. The program is open to full-time undergraduate students from all disciplines. Founded in 2017, the Department of Education bestowed a grant to California Lutheran University in order to launch the program. The McNair Scholars Program at CLU selects 25 students each year to learn more about research and graduate school preparation, culminating in an extensive 5-week residential program focused on research production. Each student is matched with a faculty member who is committed to providing guidance as McNair Scholars produce research and prepare for graduate school enrollment. Scholars present their research during the CLU McNair Research Symposium, and have the option of attending other conferences. Scholars spend their second year as McNair Capstone Fellows. During the subsequent fall and spring semesters, Capstone Fellows work towards disseminating their research. Scholars will participate in symposia, conference presentations, graduate school visits, and will work with their Faculty Mentors to publish their research, whether in the CLU McNair Journal or in an article related to their field.