Elizabeth City State University
1704 Weeksville Road
Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27909
(252)335-3494
Fax: (252)335-3758
E-mail: cjlewis@mail.ecsu.edu


The McNair Program

The McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement program is named in honor of Dr. Ronald Erwin McNair, a renown laser physicist and astronaut. Dr. McNair's life was cut short due to a tragic accident aboard the USS Challenger space shuttle in January 1986. Dr. McNair graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 1971 and received his Ph.D. at the age of 26 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976.

After his death, memebers of Congress provided funding for the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program to encourage ethnic minorities, women and other underrepresented groups to pursue graduate school opportunities, in particular doctoral studies. It is one of the five (5) federally funded TRIO programs which provide direct services to low-income and/or first generation college students. These programs are designed to help students overcome class, social, and cultural barriers to higher education.

During the academic year of 1989-90, the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program had its humble beginning with fourteen (14) projects. As of 1995-96, there are ninety-six (96) projects located in 39 of the 50 states (including the District of Columbia).

The Selection Process

To be eligible for Elizabeth City State University's McNair Program, one must be:

  • an United States citizens or permanent resident;

  • a college sophomore, junior or senior and enrolled at Elizabeth City State University;

  • a first generation college student with demonstrated financial need; or an ethnic minority (African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Pacific Islanders including native Hawaiians) and/or women who have been traditionally underrepresented at the graduate level in the fields of biology, chemistry, computer science, geoscience, mathematics, physics, and other related fields of study;

  • in good academic standing with a GPA of 2.75 or better;

  • preferably a computer science, mathematics or science major and have a strong interest in attending graduate school.

Benefits of the Programs


Program participants at Elizabeth City State University receive exemplary supportive services that are designed to accomplish four (4) major goals:

  1. to improve participants' grade point averages;

  2. to provide opportunities for research and other scholarly activities;

  3. to enhance the likelihood of admission to graduate programs of choice;

  4. to prepare students for "success" in graduate/doctoral studies.

    Services Available

    • Stipend of $2,800 for all eligible participants

    • Academic Counseling

    • Summer Internships/Research Opportunities

    • Visiting Lecturer Series

    • Research Training Colloquiums

    • Career Development Workshops

    • Vocational and Interest Testing

    • Intensive GRE Preparation Seminars

    • Field Trips/Conference Travel

    • Mentorships

    • Tutoring

    • Financial Aid Assistance (including on-line scholarship databases)

    • Graduate School Placement

    • Computer Assisted Instruction

    • Access to the Internet and World Wide Web
Direct all information requests to the Information Line or call (252) 335-3400