Student Success Home Education Outreach and Support Programs McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program

McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program

Program Description

The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program is a federal program funded by the US Department of Education TRIO grant.

The core purpose of the McNair Scholars Program is to support first-generation and low-income undergraduates at UTSA to pursue research-based graduate studies, specifically the Ph.D. The program provides the knowledge, skills and capacities necessary to successfully navigate the rigors of Ph.D. studies through immersion in research and a variety of scholarly activities. Such activities are academic skill building, a paid and faculty-led summer research internship program (up to $2,800), opportunities to present research at various conferences and symposiums, and assistance with the graduate school application process. Students who join the McNair Program join a community of peers. Each year, highly qualified students are selected from a pool of eligible applicants.

EVENT

2026 Grad School Boot Camp Registration

The 2026 Grad School Boot Camp will be held at the UT San Antonio Main 1604 Campus in San Antonio, Texas May 19-21, 2026. The 3 day Boot Camp will focus on providing students with helpful strategies they can apply in their pursuit of graduate studies.

To be eligible for the McNair Scholars Program, the student must meet the following criteria:

1. 1. Have a least 60 credit hours on their transcript (equivalent to Junior standing)
  2. Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.9
  3. Considered a first-generation student (neither parent/guardians received a four-year bachelor's degree)
  4. Considered a low-income student as defined by the Department of Education (Pell grant eligibility is usually an indication of low-income status)
  5. Must be able to participate in our 10-week Summer Research Institute in 2026 (June-August). Students who will graduate before summer 2025 will not be considered.
  6. U.S. Citizen/Permanent Resident/Verified Legal Documents showing proof of naturalization.
  7. Desire to conduct research in your respective fields/major.
  8. Interest in pursuing a Doctoral degree (Ph.D.)

In order to be considered for the program you MUST be either first-generation AND/OR low-income.

Director

Darrell C. Balderrama

darrell.balderrama@utsa.edu

Assistant Director

Liliana Gomez

liliana.Gomez@utsa.edu

Administrative Associate II

Rosalinda Luera

rosalinda.luera@utsa.edu

Our office is located in the Graduate School and Research Building (GSR) in office 2.210A. A McNair staff should be available every day of the week to answer any questions that you may have.

*If you have any further questions, please email mcnair@utsa.edu

The McNair Scholars Program and the Office of Undergraduate Research are units within UTSA Career-Engaged Learning.