The U.S. Department of Education recently renewed a $1.16 million five-year grant for the Ronald E. McNair Scholars program, a federally-funded Trio Program operated within the Longhorn Center for Academic Excellence.

The program requires a two-year commitment and includes workshops, seminars, an introduction to graduate school culture and undergraduate research opportunities. Students have the opportunity to present their research and attend academic conferences and visit potential graduate schools beyond UT Austin. The goal of the program is to increase the number of students in doctoral degree programs who are low-income and first-generation undergraduates, or students who come from groups underrepresented in graduate education.

“We look forward to utilizing these funds to continue preparing first-generation and low-income students for success in doctoral programs upon graduation from UT Austin,” said Darren Kelly, McNair Scholars director and deputy to the vice president of diversity and community engagement.

All McNair Scholars obtain a faculty mentor, work on an independent research project, receive free GRE prep (worth $2,000) and are eligible for up to $5,500 for participating. Program participants must be committed to enrolling in graduate programs with an end goal of successfully completing a Ph.D.

Visit the Rondald E. McNair Scholars website to learn more about the program.