Go To: Eligibility Requirements | Program Components | Summer Research Internship | Dependent/Independent Student Status | Low Income Status | Application Packet
The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program provides an excellent opportunity for low-income individuals who are first-generation college students and/or traditionally underrepresented in graduate education to pursue doctoral study.
The program is named in honor of Dr. Ronald E. McNair, the laser physicist and Challenger space shuttle astronaut. Dr. McNair graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 1971 and received his Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institutes of Technology in 1976. He was selected by NASA for the space shuttle program in 1978 and served as mission specialist on the successful 1984 Challenger flight before his death in the space shuttle explosion in 1986.
The program is jointly funded by the U. S. Department of Education ($220,000 for 96% of total funding) and UNT Health Science Center's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences ($9000 for 4% of total funding).
Summer Research Internship
Participants will be awarded faculty-mentored summer research internships. These internships are full-time ten-week commitments. Interns will:
Dependent/Independent Student Status
The Federal government qualifies students as independent only if the meet one of the following criteria:
If you do not meet the above criteria you must submit both your and your parents' income tax return forms for the previous year or your federal financial aid forms from the previous year. If you do meet the above criteria, you must submit your income tax return forms from the previous year or current federal financial aid forms.
The low income levels for eligibility in the McNair Scholars Program are set by the U.S. Government and are not flexible. If your taxable family income is less than or equal to the amounts of below, you are eligible under the low income criteria. Remember you must also be first generation to be eligible for the McNair Scholars Program.
Taxable income is defined as the amount upon which you pay taxes (the amount after deductions). For dependent students, taxable family income is the student's taxable income plus the parents' taxable income.
Federal TRIO Programs |
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Size of Family Unit |
Contiguous 48 States, the District of Columbia, and Outlying Jurisdictions |
Alaska |
Hawaii |
1 |
13,470 |
16,815 |
15,495 |
2 |
18,180 |
22,710 |
20,910 |
3 |
22,890 |
28,605 |
26,325 |
4 |
27,600 |
34,500 |
31,740 |
5 |
32,310 |
40,395 |
37,155 |
6 |
37,020 |
46,290 |
42,570 |
7 |
41,730 |
52,185 |
47,985 |
8 |
46,440 |
58,080 |
53,400 |
For family units with more than 8 members, add the following amount for each additional family member: $4,710 for the contiguous 48 states, the District of Columbia, and outlying jurisdictions; $5,895 for Alaska; and $5,415 for Hawaii. The term 'low income individual' means an individual whose family's taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150% of the poverty level amount.
The figures shown under family income represent amounts equal to 150% of the family income levels established by the Census Bureau for determining poverty status. The poverty guidelines were published under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Federal Register, Vol. 68, No. 26, February 7, 2003, pp. 6456-6458. |
The following materials must be submitted by the applicant by March 23, 2012 (This is not a postmark date. All materials must be received by March 23rd for consideration):
Additionally, you will need to request recommendations from two individuals by sending them the recommendation forms. (Click here to launch the form. Print two copies of the form).
All application materials become the property of UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth and cannot be returned.
Send application materials to:
UNT Health Science Center
McNair Scholars Program
Attn: Minnie Zavala
3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard
Fort Worth, Texas 76107-2699
817-735-0174 or 1-866-21-REACH (Toll Free)