TRIO McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement

To provide grants for institutions of higher education to prepare participants for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. Participants are from disadvantaged backgrounds and have demonstrated strong academic

The McNair Program awards discretionary grants to institutions of higher education for projects designed to provide disadvantaged college students with effective preparation for doctoral study.

Institutions of higher education or combinations of institutions of higher education may apply.

2/3 of participants must be low-income first generation college students. The remaining participants must be students from groups underrepresented in graduate education. All participants must be enrolled in a degree program at an eligible institution of higher education.

Funds must be used by the participating institution to provide eligible participants with opportunities for research and other scholarly activities; summer internships; seminars; tutoring; academic counseling; and activities designed to help students secure admission and financial assistance for graduate study. Funds may be used for: services to improve students' financial and economic literacy, mentoring and exposure to cultural events. At least two-thirds of the project participants must be low-income individuals who are first-generation college students. The remaining participants may be from a group that is underrepresented in graduate education.

The Department specifies unallowable costs in 34 CFR 647.31. We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of funding notices for this assistance listing.

Five year projects, subject to the availability of funds.

An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

For new awards, the Department will select applicants under the criteria set forth in 647.21 and 647.22 of the program regulations. Contact the program office for additional information.

Nonfederal field readers evaluate new proposals on the basis of the selection criteria specified in 34 CFR 647.21. Grants are awarded by the Federal TRIO Programs office.

Approximately 90 to 180 days.

Awards are for 5-year project periods. Continuation awards are made annually. Generally, continuation awards are made if sufficient funds have been appropriated and the grantee is meeting the conditions of the grant and making substantial progress toward meeting the project objectives.

The program statute requires a second review of unsuccessful applications. The Department implements the second review process in accordance with 34 CFR 647.24. An unsuccessful applicant requesting a second review must provide evidence for the Department, an agent of the Department, or a peer reviewer made a technical, administrative, or scoring error in the processing or review of its application.