McNair Scholars Program Coordinator

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McNair Scholars Program Coordinator

Academic Staff

Regular

Academic Program Manager

The McNair Program Coordinator reports to and works in close collaboration with the Program Director to support students and ensure that the program is implemented according to the goals and outcomes described in the Department of Education TRIO McNair grant. The primary responsibilities of the Program Coordinator focus on the student‑facing elements that are aligned with grant outcomes. The Program Coordinator supports students in preparing graduate school applications, reviewing graduate school offers, and coordinating all student travel to research conferences and/or prospective graduate programs.

The Program Coordinator supports prospective participants throughout the application process, and assists the Program Director with all phases of recruitment including scheduling and attending interviews and making admissions decisions. The Program Coordinator tracks academic progress of all program participants, and is responsible for obtaining and reporting all data relevant to the program and grant goals to the Program Director, including preparing reports for institutional and federal assessment purposes.

The Program Coordinator co‑designs the annual and summer curriculum, and instructs as needed. The Program Coordinator plans events and is responsible for managing the program office, including supervising the program’s Administrative Assistant and student office workers. Travel, including driving, to accompany students on grant‑related activities is expected and University driver authorization is required.

The McNair Scholars Program is housed in the division of Access, Belonging & Student Engagement. This position is fully funded by federal TRIO program grant funding from the Department of Education, and is subject to annual review and reappointment based on performance criteria and availability of grant funding. The UWL McNair Scholars Program is a federally funded "Ronald

E. McNair Post‑Baccalaureate Achievement" TRIO Program, serving UWL students since 2009. The program prepares eligible participants for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. Participants must meet federal eligibility guidelines and have demonstrated strong academic potential and desire to participate in undergraduate and graduate research. Participants must be citizens or nationals of the United States or meet the residency requirements for federal student financial assistance, and meet at least one of the federal McNair Program eligibility criteria (low income, first generation college student and/or be a member of a group that is underrepresented in graduate education).

The program considers applications from eligible students in all majors that could lead to a Ph.D. as the terminal degree. Supports provided through the program include paid undergraduate research opportunities under the guidance of a faculty mentor, graduate school application and GRE fee assistance, travel for conferences and graduate school visits, and individual mentoring and advising. The program also provides opportunities to engage in a broad range of cultural events, mindfulness training, and other educational programming designed to improve financial literacy and preparedness for graduate study.

• Provide personal, career, and graduate school advising to program participants
• Co‑design the summer and academic year seminar curriculum and work with the seminar leader(s) and Program Director to provide participants with research guidance and direction, including information on presentation and publication of results
• Assist Program Director with identifying faculty mentors, and ensuring mentors are trained and familiar with program expectations
• Support participants with graduate school search and application processes
• Gather and provide information…