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McNair Scholars Program Faculty Mentor Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the purpose of the USM McNair Scholars Program? 

• The McNair Scholars Program is a federally funded TRiO program designed to prepare 
  income-eligible, first-generation students, and students with limited representation in 
  graduate school for doctoral study. The program provides opportunities for research 
  engagement, scholarly activity, graduate school application preparation, and community 
  engagement to help achieve project objectives. These activities aim to empower engaged undergraduate researchers to think critically, enact positive change in their spheres of 
  influence, and ultimately attain a qualifying research-intensive doctoral degree. 

How are mentors selected, and what are mentor expectations? 

• The respective scholar often identifies a faculty mentor after applying to the McNair 
  Program. Mentors are typically within the scholar’s discipline (although opportunities for 
  cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary projects exist, aligning with scholars’ research 
  interests). Mentors are expected to guide the scholar  1) in determining their research 
  design in the spring and 2) in collecting/analyzing data, writing up their findings, and 
  preparing for research presentations in the summer. However, McNair staff also work 
  with scholars to start conceptualizing a project that is attainable and timely within the 
  spring and summer semesters. Program staff also assist students with their presentation 
  preparation. Lastly, mentors are expected to attend a McNair Program Orientation early 
  in the spring semester to receive more information about the program. Faculty mentors 
  must also sign a Faculty Mentor Agreement Form to officially begin working with their 
  mentee.

What are the program benefits for the McNair Mentor? 

• For your service, we will provide a small stipend as a token of appreciation for your time. 
  At the completion of your mentee’s project, you will also receive a service letter signed 
  by the McNair Scholars Director and Dean of the Graduate School. 

What are the program benefits for the McNair Scholar? 

• There are many benefits that we offer McNair Scholars for participating in the program. 
  Scholars conduct an intensive summer research project and receive a graduate school 
  preparation internship, resulting in a heavily supported summer experience designed to 
  bolster scholars’ graduate school applications. Should you decide to serve as a faculty 
  mentor, the most important benefit scholars receive is one-on-one faculty mentorship, 
  further exposing students to the rigors and rewards of graduate school attendance. 
  Additionally, the McNair Program provides scholars with a research stipend of up to 
  $2,800, nominal funding for any necessary research supplies, GRE prep materials, as well 
  as college visits, conference attendance, and graduate school application fee waivers free of charge to the scholar.  

What is the required time commitment for a McNair Mentor? 

• McNair Mentors must be doctoral candidates, adjunct faculty, or full-time faculty at 
  USM willing to work with a McNair scholar throughout the spring and summer semesters 
  following their scholar’s admittance to the program. While there is no specific time 
  requirement to be a mentor to a McNair Scholar, we suggest weekly check-ins (e.g., via 
  email or an established asynchronous method) and biweekly meetings with the scholar to 
  help them make gradual and consistent progress toward completing their project.