The U.S. Department of Education established the Ronald E.
McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program in 1989. The mission
of the McNair Scholars Program is to encourage students who are
interested in graduate education to pursue a doctoral degree. The
program focuses on first generation/income eligible college
students, and students who are traditionally underrepresented in
graduate education. The program concentrates on providing quality
services to ensure that participants graduate with a Bachelors
degree, and to improve their chances to enter doctoral
programs.