The University of Delaware’s McNair Scholars Program has recently received approval for a five-year renewal of federal funding.

The UD McNair program is one of 151 such programs at colleges and universities across the country. Named for the late physicist and Challenger astronaut Ronald E. McNair, the McNair program seeks to increase the number of graduate degrees awarded to first-generation, low-income students and students from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in graduate education.

McNair prepares undergraduate students for doctoral work by involving them in research and other scholarly activities and through providing mentorship during the graduate school application process.

At UD, the McNair program shares an office at 180 South College Ave. with the Undergraduate Research Program, with which it works in close collaboration.

Faculty director sought

With its funding now confirmed, the McNair program is seeking a faculty director to assume its leadership. Members of the faculty interested in this position are invited to contact Deputy Provost Lynn Okagaki at okagaki@udel.edu for more information.