McNair Scholars

In This Section

AFC Operating Status: Hours of Operation from 8:30 - 4:30 pm. Please contact staff members through email. Should you need immediate assistance from an AFC staff member, please contact 973-353-3577.



Program Application

The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program was established in honor of Dr. Ronald E. McNair. He earned a Ph.D. in Laser Physics in 1976, and in 1978 became a part of NASA's astronaut program. Dr. McNair was the second African-American to fly in space. In 1986, his life ended with the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger. His family lobbied for the inception of the program in his honor to help others from disadvantaged backgrounds obtain a higher education. The mission of the program is to prepare students from low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented backgrounds for doctoral studies. The overall goal is to increase Ph.D. degree attainment.

McNair F.A.Q.

What are the eligibility requirements for McNair?
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  • Be a United States citizen or have permanent residence in the U. S.
  • Be a full-time undergraduate enrolled in a degree program at Rutgers University-Newark.
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
  • Be an undergraduate junior or senior.
  • Have completed the 2017-2018 FAFSA.
  • Be a low-income student who is also a first-generation college student or must be a member of a group that is underrepresented in graduate education (African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic/Latino, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander).
  • Have a strong desire to attain a Ph.D.
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What services are offered by the McNair Program?
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  • Exposure to graduate schools and Ph.D. programs.
  • Assistance with graduate school application process.
  • Assistance with GRE preparation.
  • Research collaboratively with our faculty through exposure, experiences and seminars.
  • Opportunities to attend and present research projects at professional meetings and conferences, as well as to co-publish in peer reviewed and reference journals.
  • Access to internships, seminars, graduate school tours, and other educational activities.
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Key Contacts

Rex Nobles

Program Director
(973) 353-3583 Fax (973) 353-5700
110 Warren StreetRoom 121
NewarkNew Jersey07102

Contact me about the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program