Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program ...

Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement ProgramMcKinley Hall 1094400 Massachusetts Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20016-8030(202) 885-3797 • fax: (202) 885-1137mcnair@american.edu

PROGRAM OVERVIEWFORMSIntroduction 3 Faculty Mentor Information SheetFederal TRIO Programs 4 Research Action PlanProgram Administration 4 Research Journal/Logbook PageFaculty Advisory Committee 4 Travel ReportDr. Ronald E. McNair 5 McNair Workshop Evaluation SheetHistory 6 Mentor Request LetterPurpose, Eligibility, Services, andMentor Partnership Agreement (SRI)Benefits 6 Mentor Partnership Agreement (Proposal)Proposal Approval FormPOLICIES AND PROCEDURESREFERENCEMission and Purpose 7Scholar Responsibilities 8 Travel Expenditure GuidelinesDocument Deadlines 9 McNair Scholar ContractTravel 10 Instructions for Poster PresentationsEligibility for Travel 10 Research Proposal GuidelinesTraveling Tips 10Follow-up 12RESEARCH GUIDELINESResearch Experience 13Research Journal or Logbook 14Recognition Luncheon 14Poster Sessions 15Research Abstract Journal 16Annual Student Research Conference 16Research Paper 16Research Stipend Pay Schedule 17Roles and Responsibilities of the Mentor 18Roles and Responsibilities of Mentees 20Rewards and Benefits of Being an AUMcNair Mentee 21Selecting a Faculty Mentor 21

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ INTRODUCTION ✧✧✧✧✧The McNair Scholar Handbook is a basic guide that describes the policies, services, benefits, expectations,and resources of the American University (AU) Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalureate Achievement Program.It addresses the value of mentoring and student readiness as key components of the program andpreparation for graduate education. The first two sections give an overview of the program and describe thepolicies and procedures. The third section focuses on research and the mentoring process, including rolesand responsibilities of mentors and mentees. The fourth section includes sample forms used to documentthe academic and research experiences, and the last section includes reference materials.The McNair Scholar Handbook is by no means exhaustive, and it is not designed to include all existingpolicies, procedures, and rules of the program. Many applicable specific policies and procedures areprovided, as needed, in other formats such as written announcements, newsletters, bulletin boards,electronic-mail messages, and telephone calls. This is a living document, subject to modification as needed.As a result, updates will be occasionally delivered to you. It is very important that you keep yourhandbooks up-to-date.The AU McNair Program will give you a wealth of new opportunities to explore your interests, enhanceyour academic potential and reach your academic and professional goals. Your experiences as a McNairScholar will guide you through major decisions concerning your life and your career. The quality of thosedecisions and your success in graduate education will depend, to a great extent, upon your attitude, yourdesire to learn and accept challenges, and your commitment throughout your undergraduate years.The success of the AU McNair program lies in the collaborative effort of faculty mentors, program staff,the AU community, and of course YOU. The McNair Scholar Handbook has been written to meet yourinformational needs. It is the basic tool designed to ensure that your experience as a McNair Scholar isrewarding, enriching, and engaging. We encourage you to take advantage of the many services and benefitsthe program provides to prepare you for a successful graduate education career.Welcome Aboard!Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program is funded through a grant from the UnitedStates Department of Education and American University.3

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ FEDERAL TRIO PROGRAMS ✧✧✧✧✧The TRIO programs include eight outreach and support programs targeted to help disadvantaged studentsprogress from middle school to post baccalaureate programs.The history of TRIO is progressive. It began with Upward Bound, which emerged out of the EconomicOpportunity Act of 1964 in response to the Johnson administration's War on Poverty. In 1965, TalentSearch, the second outreach program, was created as part of the Higher Education Act. In 1968, StudentSupport Services, which was originally known as Special Services for Disadvantaged Students, wasauthorized by the Higher Education Amendments and became the third in a series of educationalopportunity programs. By the late 1960's, the term "TRIO" was coined to describe these federal programs.Over the years, TRIO programs grew in size and scope. The Higher Education Amendments of 1972 addedthe fourth program to the TRIO group by authorizing the Educational Opportunity Centers. The 1976Education Amendments authorized the Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs, initially known asthe Training Program for Special Programs Staff and Leadership Personnel. Amendments in 1986 addedthe sixth program, the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program. Additionally, in 1990,the Department created the Upward Bound Math/Science program to address the need for specificinstruction in the fields of math and science. The Upward Bound Math/Science program is administeredunder the same regulations as the regular Upward Bound program, but it must be applied for separately.Finally, the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 authorized the TRIO Dissemination Partnershipprogram to encourage the replication of successful practices of TRIO programs by providing occasion andincentives for institutions and agencies to adapt demonstrably valuable TRIO program components,practices, strategies, and activities. The legislative requirements for all TRIO programs can be found in theHigher Education Act of 1965, Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2.✧✧✧✧✧ PROGRAM ADMlNISTRATION ✧✧✧✧✧Professor Charles Tesconi, Jr., Principal InvestigatorProfessor Bette Dickerson, Co-Principal InvestigatorAdey Stembridge, Director✧✧✧✧✧ FACULTY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ✧✧✧✧✧Perry Wallace, Washington College of LawBarbara Diggs-Brown, School of CommunicationMichael Mass, Kogod College of Business AdministrationLarry Medsker, College of Arts and SciencesDavid Owens, Office of Multicultural AffairsSteven Taylor, School of Public AffairsCathy Schneider, School of International Service4

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ DR. RONALD E. McNAIR ✧✧✧✧✧OCTOBER 21, 1950 to JANUARY 28, 1986“Whether or not you reach your goals in life depends entirely on how well you prepare for them and howbadly you want them. “You 're eagles! Stretch your wings and fly to the sky.”“Before you can make a dream come true, you must first have one.”Ronald Ervin McNair was born on October 21, 1950 in Lake City, South Carolina to Carl and PearlMcNair. He attended North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, where in 1971, he graduatedmagna cum laude with a BS degree in Physics. In 1976 he earned his Ph.D. degree in Physics from theMassachusetts Institute of Technology.Dr. McNair's many distinctions include: Presidential Scholar (1967-71), Ford Foundation Fellow (1971-74), and National Fellowship Fund Fellow (1974-75). He was also named Omega Psi Phi Scholar of theYear (1975), was honored as the Distinguished National Scientist by the National Society of BlackProfessional Engineers (1979), and received the Friend Of Freedom Award (1981).Ronald E. McNair was nationally recognized for his work in the field of Laser Physics. In 1978, he was oneof 35 applicants selected from a pool of ten thousand for NASA's space shuttle program and assigned as amission specialist aboard the 1984 flight of the shuttle Challenger. On his first space shuttle mission inFebruary 1984, McNair orbited the earth 122 times aboard Challenger. He was the second AfricanAmerican to fly in space.In addition to his academic achievements, he received three honorary doctorates and numerous fellowshipsand commendations. He was also a sixth degree black belt in karate and an accomplished jazz saxophonist.He was married to Cheryl Moore and had two children, Reginald Ervin and Joy Cheray.On the morning of January 28, 1986, McNair and his six crew members died in an explosion aboard thespace shuttle Challenger.5

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ HISTORY ✧✧✧✧✧The American University Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, established inmemory of astronaut-physicist and Challenger crew member Ronald E. McNair, was one of the originalfourteen McNair programs funded in the first grant cycle. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education(USDOE), the program serves a diverse group of talented AU and UDC sophomores, juniors, and seniorswho are interested in pursuing graduate education. As of November 1999, the number of grantees in thenation increased to approximately 160.The McNair Program provides enriching scholastic experiences that prepare eligible scholars for doctoraleducation. Program participants benefit from a variety of services such as intensive research experiences,research faculty mentoring, academic, career, personal, and financial aid counseling, GRE preparation,assistance to meet graduate admission requirements, tutoring, and research skills. In addition, scholars areeligible to receive a research stipend provided by USDOE and AU.✧✧✧✧✧ PURPOSE, ELIGIBILTY, SERVICES, AND BENEFITS ✧✧✧✧✧The purpose of the McNair Program is to provide enriching scholastic experiences that prepare eligiblescholars for doctoral (Ph.D.) education. To this end, participants are given the unique opportunity ofdeveloping the highest-level academic and research skills needed for successful admission to andcompletion of a Ph.D. program. McNair scholars are eligible for services until they complete theirbaccalaureate degree. However, program staff will always be ready to provide moral support, advice andguidance to all McNair alumni throughout their graduate years as they pursue their doctoral degrees.The program is offered on a competitive basis. To qualify, an applicant must meet the following criteriaestablished by the U.S. Department of Education and the AU McNair Program administration. He or shemust:• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident,• have sophomore standing (at least 30 credits earned),• have a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA (on a 4.00 scale),• complete an application and personal interview, and• be a low income, first generation college student and/or a member of a group traditionally underrepresentedin graduate education. (First generation means that neither parent has earned a fouryearcollege degree.)Services and benefits provided by the AU McNair Program include, but are not limited to the following:• Conduct research throughout the year,• participate in a mentoring experience and receive a research fellowship,• present research findings at the annual research symposium,• participate in professional conferences,• learn library and research skills,• improve study and test-taking skills,• receive tutoring,• receive academic, personal, and career counseling,• prepare for graduate admission exams, including intensive preparation for the GRE,• inquire about and visit graduate programs,• receive assistance in the process of securing admission to graduate programs, and• receive assistance with graduate admission and financial aid application forms.6

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ MISSION AND PURPOSE ✧✧✧✧✧The AU Ronald E. McNair Program is committed to value, promote, and increase diversity among itsmembers, including scholars, principal investigators, faculty advisory committee, scholar selectioncommittee, faculty mentors and staff. It is also designed to give all participants equal opportunities toimprove their academic performance, develop research skills, enhance their knowledge about graduateeducation, and enrich their overall life skills.The AU Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program is governed by a set of regulationsestablished by the U.S. Department of Education and American University, as the host institution. McNairadministrators are accountable for accomplishing specific objectives to fulfill the purpose of the program.The following sections describe the policies and procedures for each component of the program.THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY McNAIR PROGRAM IS TOPROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN THE ACADEMIC ENDEAVORS OF LOW-INCOME, FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND STUDENTSFROM TRADITIONALLY UNDER-REPRESENTED GROUPS; THE McNAIRSCHOLARS PROGRAM AIMS TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OFTHESE UNDER-REPRESENTED GROUPS IN GRADUATE ANDSPECIFICALLY DOCTORAL STUDY.7

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ SCHOLAR RESPONSIBILITIES ✧✧✧✧✧When accepted into the program, you agree to give full commitment to the program and to observe specificrules and regulations established by the program administration, the U.S. Department of Education, andAmerican University. You should thoroughly understand that failure to comply with the responsibilitieslisted below will affect your eligibility to continue in the program. You are committed to the following:• Select a faculty mentor after orientation and before you start your research experience.• Secure an e-mail address that you will check regularly and remain on the AU McNairlistserve.• Check your e-mail messages at least three times a week.• Attend and actively participate in all scheduled program meetings, workshops, and lectures.• Participate in required professional, educational, and scholarly (research) activities.• Seek information about, select and attend optional seminars, conferences or workshops.• Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA per semester.• Participate in a tutoring program, if needed.• Take the intensive GRE preparation course.• Take required graduate admission tests (GRE) and submit a copy of the results to the McNairoffice.• Be punctual to all scheduled meetings and other program events.• Meet with the McNair director or program assistant at least three times per semester forcounseling and advisement.• Meet with the director or program assistant for midterm review.• Conduct intensive research during the summer, minimum 35 hours a week for eight (8) weeks.• Meet with the faculty mentor(s) regularly.• Keep a research journal or logbook.• Give an oral presentation on the progress of your research at the end of the research internship.• Release grade reports, financial aid award notices, and any other relevant information concerningyour enrollment in the McNair Program.• Notify the McNair director or program assistant of any changes in personal, academic or researchrelated information.• Complete an exit interview and packet upon completion of the program.• Submit all required documents to the McNair office on or before the scheduled deadlines.• Cooperate with follow-up surveys.8

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ DOCUMENT DEADLINES ✧✧✧✧✧DOCUMENTDUEStudent Contract • At new scholars orientationInitial Needs Assessment • At new scholars orientationW-4 Form • At beginning of Summer Research InternshipFaculty Mentor Selection • When mentor(s) is(are) selected or when youchange mentorsResearch Proposal • After faculty mentor is selected, before researchexperience begins• At the beginning of each semester• At the beginning of the summer internship• When adding or changing mentor• When changing research focusProgress Report • At midterm reviewTravel Report • Ten working days after last day of tripTravel Voucher, Travel Compliance, and • Three working days after last day of tripReceiptsResearch Logbook of Journal • At midterm reviewUpdate Form • When changing home or work address• When changing any personal, academic,financial assistance, and/or researchinformation• When leaving the program (Exit Packet)End of the Year Evaluation • Last working day in September every yearPublication Quality Research Paper • Last semester of senior year, before graduationCopies of GRE Scores, Statement of Purpose,Vitae, Graduate Applications, Publications,Presentations, Fellowships, Assistantships,Scholarships, Letters of Expectance, RejectionLetters• Upon completion of receipt of specifieddocument (as assigned by staff)Research Abstract Page (300-words) • As assigned by staffExit Evaluation • When leaving the program due to:~graduation~voluntary resignation~dismissal9

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ TRAVEL ✧✧✧✧✧The McNair Program encourages you to seek opportunities for participating in educational and scholarlyevents that will enhance your knowledge of graduate education, provide opportunities to present yourresearch, and allow you to network with administrators, faculty, researchers and students involved withgraduate education nationwide. Ask your mentor to inform you about special events that foster studentparticipation and networking opportunities.The program covers part or all of the traveling expenses to special events that are directly related to thepurpose and objectives of the program. The amount will be determined by the director BEFOREarrangements are made, according to the availability of funds. You must submit the Travel Request Form tothe program director for approval, six to eight weeks before the projected traveling date (see Formssection). If the request is approved, the director may make travel arrangements with input from you andyour mentor, if applicable.✧✧✧✧✧ ELIGIBILITY FOR TRAVEL ✧✧✧✧✧Approval may be granted (in order of priority) to McNair Scholars who:• Are attending professional conferences to present their research,• have not traveled, and are attending professional conferences with their mentors,• are traveling to attend professional conferences in the Washington Metropolitan Area,• have not traveled and are attending McNair conferences, and• are visiting prospective graduate departments to select a college or university.✧✧✧✧✧ TRAVELING TIPS ✧✧✧✧✧McNair Scholars are the ambassadors of the American University Ronald E. McNair Program. As such,they must always conduct themselves in a professional manner. Keep the following traveling tips in mindwhen you make plans to travel:Whenever you travel you must:• Ask about the various events scheduled and be prepared to dress accordingly,• be punctual,• seek the guidance of your mentor, the program staff and senior McNair Scholars,• take along business cards available in the McNair Office,• collect informational materials to share with other scholars and to place in the McNair referencelibrary,• save all your receipts including the back page of your airline ticket and hotel receipt,• secure a hotel bill showing zero (0) balance to prove that you paid the bill,• keep a log of your conference activities to prepare the follow-up report,• save a copy of the conference program (seek your mentor's help to schedule specific sessions orspeakers before you leave for the conference), and• be ready to discuss your traveling experiences with your peers.10

2002 McNair Program ManualWhen traveling to attend professional conferences you must:• Attend all scheduled conference sessions and meetings. Sightseeing time may be given to you aspart of your overall educational experience.• Give yourself the opportunity to network and establish contact with professionals in your field,faculty, administrators, fellow students, and staff from participating institutions.• Collect brochures, business cards, conference programs, and any other information made availableby professional organizations, participating institutions, and/or others interested in your researchtopic.When presenting your research you must:• Be well prepared for your presentation. Practice it in front of your mentor, an audience of peers, orthe McNair staff to get feedback and constructive criticism.• Be at the site early to familiarize yourself with the room and to test the audiovisual equipmentneeded.When traveling to visit prospective graduate programs you must:• Coordinate your plans with the McNair Director.• Discuss your plans with your mentor to seek his/her advice, names of contact persons, and opinionabout the prospective graduate program.• Read about the institution(s) you are planning to visit. Read articles published by faculty.• Contact the office of graduate admissions and the department of your choice to schedule meetingswith the chair, faculty, administrators, financial aid officials, and graduate students.• Prepare an interview questionnaire.• Prepare a portfolio including statement of purpose, transcripts, vitae, publication or writingsample, and GRE scores.• Send thank you and follow-up letters to persons who helped you during the visit.Note: To visit prospective graduate schools, the program provides transportation only, when funds areavailable. Thus, you must make arrangements to provide for food, lodging, and other expenses (i.e., sharinga dorm room; staying with friends, relatives, or faculty). Your mentor's assistance in identifying key contactpersons in prospective graduate programs is extremely valuable to you.11

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ TRAVEL FOLLOW-UP ✧✧✧✧✧After returning to AU, you are responsible for writing thank you letters to persons who helped you duringthe visit, completing specific travel documents (travel voucher), and submitting travel reports.Travel ReportYou are expected to submit a travel report within ten working days after the trip is completed. It mustinclude the following items: conference theme; topics of specific workshops attended; benefits that yougained from attending the event; and any contributions the McNair Scholar made, such as giving apresentation, participating in a poster session, a panel discussion, etc. You must submit a conferenceprogram or a visit itinerary with your travel report. A suggested Travel Report form is included in theForms section.Administrative Travel DocumentsWithin five working days after the trip is completed, you must complete and turn in the followingdocuments provided by the director:• Signed Travel Voucher (see Forms Section),• back page of the airline ticket (carbon copy of the ticket used for receipt),• hotel bills that show a zero balance. You must remember that to obtain this bill, you need to goto the front desk to check out instead of using the "express check out" system.• receipts for paid parking,• receipts for ground transportation (i.e., shuttle, taxi, etc.),• receipts for conference registration, if applicable, and• receipts for meals not covered by the conference registration fee.Please see the Travel Expenditure Guidelines form in the reference section for more detail onreimbursement policies.Sharing Travel ExperienceWhen you travel, you have the opportunity to share your experiences with the group during regularmeetings. You are encouraged to show pictures, distribute copies of handouts or other informationalmaterials and give travel advice to your peers.12

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ RESEARCH EXPERIENCE ✧✧✧✧✧Research is the “diligent and systematic inquiry into a subject in order to discover or revise facts andtheories” (Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 1995). It is also defined as “the thorough investigation, thescholarly or scientific inquiry or study, or the careful and detailed exploration of a subject or theory”(American Heritage Dictionary, 1985). Currently, undergraduate research is becoming more important andincreasingly integrated in higher education curricula. The AU McNair Program is designed to provideenriching and successful research experiences to you throughout the year. During the intensive summerresearch internship, you are expected to conduct 35 hours of research per week under the guidance of afaculty mentor. You must complete at least one intensive summer research internship before graduation.Mentor SelectionThe initial and most important step of the research experience is the selection of a faculty mentor. You areguided and assisted in the selection of an expert faculty mentor in your major discipline. You must discussthe progress of your selection with either the director or the program assistant and seek their directionbefore you make the final decision. Your faculty mentor is carefully selected so that his/her own researchinterests coincide with yours. Sometimes, a team of two mentors is accepted.McNair mentors are required to complete the Mentor Selection Agreement form, attach their curriculumvitae and a copy of a sample research publication. You are responsible for submitting these documents tothe director or the program assistant (see Forms section). Because the mentoring component of the McNairprogram is so vital to its success, a separate section is devoted to it.Research Action PlanYou and your mentor are expected to meet before the research experience begins to design your researchproposal. The purpose of this initial meeting is to set long and short-term research goals, determine theresearch action plan, and set the time-line for research and/or proposal completion. You areresponsible for submitting this proposal to the McNair Program Office. You must repeat this process atthe beginning of the summer internship, and/or when you change the focus of your research, or when youchange or add mentors.13

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ RESEARCH JOURNAL OR LOGBOOK ✧✧✧✧✧A key aspect of the research process is documentation. You are required to keep a journal or logbook ofALL of your research activities, and inform your mentor about this requirement. In addition, you areexpected to present this journal to the McNair director or the program assistant during your midterm review(see Forms section). The journal or logbook must include the following items:• Research date,• amount of time spent on the research activity,• brief description of the research activity,• accomplishments and/or follow-up required,• meetings with mentors and research team, when applicable, and• research presentations, when applicable.Progress ReportYou are responsible for approaching your mentor about scheduling regular meetings with him/her todiscuss research progress and check your logbook. Before the midterm review, you and your mentor needto meet to complete and sign the Progress Report (see Forms section).Midterm ReviewYou are expected to meet with McNair Staff for a midterm research review. This session lastsapproximately thirty minutes and is usually scheduled during the fourth week of the summer researchinternship. You must be prepared to submit your progress report, and present your journal or logbook forreview.On-Site VisitDuring the summer research internship, the director or program assistant will schedule 30 minute on-sitevisits with you and your mentor. The purpose of this visit is to inform your mentor about general issuesrelated to the program, clarify expectations and responsibilities, discuss research progress, assess yourneeds, and discuss ideas to improve the program. You will be required to submit a summer progress reportand show your research journal at this time.✧✧✧✧✧ RECOGNITION LUNCHEON ✧✧✧✧✧Each April, the McNair Program hosts the Annual Recognition Luncheon to honor the scholars and theirmentors. The McNair Advisory Board, AU administrators, selected faculty and community leaders areinvited. The program is led by senior scholars and includes a keynote speaker.14

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ POSTER SESSIONS ✧✧✧✧✧Many conferences and symposiums provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their research(completed or in progress) in poster presentations. You are responsible for preparing your individualposters with the guidance and help of your mentor and the McNair staff. Mentors are expected to guideyou, but not to do the work for you.When presenting your research in a poster presentation, you must prepare a two-minute explanation of yourresearch to present to visitors interested in your project. The display boards have a center (24"x36") andtwo folding wings (12"x36") as shown below.Your poster must include the following items organized professionally and creatively:• Research title (your name, your mentor's name and department, institution),• abstract (200 words),• introduction (purpose, research question or hypothesis),• description,• method (procedure, tools, materials),• results and/or conclusions,• implications, recommendations,• literature cited, references,• other relevant information or supporting materials (i.e., pictures, diagrams, tables), and• acknowledgments.For more details about posterboard presentations, see the “Instructions for Poster Presentations” located inthe Reference section.12''24''12'American UniversityRONALD E. MCNAIRPOSTBACCALAUREATTEACHIEVEMENTPROGRAMResearch TitleMcNair Scholar, Jr./Sr.,DepartmentMentor: John Doe, Ph.D./Ed.D.,Department15

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ RESEARCH ABSTRACT JOURNAL ✧✧✧✧✧The McNair Scholars Research Abstract Journal is produced annually. You must submit a one-page(250 words) abstract that reflects your summer research. It must be typed, signed by you and your mentor,and turned in on or the last working day in September. A sample abstract in the Reference section. You willbe required to save your page on disk and submit it to the McNair Program Office.✧✧✧✧✧ ANNUAL STUDENT RESEARCH CONFERENCE ✧✧✧✧✧Another important research event at AU is the Annual Student Research Conference sponsored by theCollege of Arts and Sciences held in mid-February .You are responsible for giving an eight-minutepresentation of your research (plus two minutes for questions from the audience). You are responsible notonly for seeking the advice and guidance of your mentor in preparing the presentation, but for encouragingyour mentor to attend your presentation. His/her constructive criticism and feedback will be of great valueto you. You and your mentor will be informed of the exact date, time, location, and format of thesymposium by the end of January. Your application for the conference will be due in mid-December. Yourfamily, friends, the AU community, and the public are invited to this event.The symposium may be scheduled as an all day event from 9:00 to 4:00 p.m. on a Saturday, or as anafternoon event (12:00 to 5:30) where concurrent sessions take place. All McNair Scholars are expectedto attend this event to learn from and support their peers. Therefore, you should not schedule other eventsor activities during the time of the conference.✧✧✧✧✧ RESEARCH PAPER ✧✧✧✧✧You are strongly encouraged to take your research very seriously and try to participate in scholarlyactivities (i.e., professional conferences) to present it. You are also encouraged to make plans with yourmentor to coauthor professional articles. Throughout your research experience, you should keep in mindthat you are expected to submit at least one publication quality research paper before you graduate. Itis strongly recommended that you discuss this requirement with your mentor at the beginning of yourresearch experience and include this task in the research action plan and time-line.16

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ RESEARCH STIPEND PAY SCHEDULE ✧✧✧✧✧You may be eligible to receive a summer research fellowship of $2,800 provided by USDOE to continuingscholars who meet specific criteria. The purpose of the research fellowship is to help you defray part ofyour educational expenses, so that you can concentrate on your research experience. The 2002 Summerresearch program will begin on May 13 th and conclude on July 6 th . Research stipends for the summer of2002 will be paid as follows:Summer Research Internship Pay Schedule:Time Sheets Due Pay Day Stipend AmountMay 24,2002 June 7,2002 $700.00June 10,2002 June 21,2002 $700.00June 24,2002 July 5,2002 $700.00July 22,2002 August 2,2002 $700.00You must pick up your research fellowship checks personally at the McNair Office. If you hold a campusjob, the amount will be added to your regular paycheck every month under a separate account. Please notethat failure to submit documents in a timely manner or participate fully in program activities will result infines and penalties which will be subtracted directly from your stipend. You will not be eligible to make upany fines at a later pay date.17

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MENTOR ✧✧✧✧✧Mentoring is the nurturing process that promotes the development, growth, and enrichment of the protégéor mentee. Historically, it has been said that the ancient Greeks were the first ones to use mentoring as atool for talent development where the student or "mentee" was placed under the tutelage of a wise or trustedteacher or "mentor" (Adams and Conley, 1986). The foundation for a successful mentoring program is thequality of the relationship between the mentor and the student or mentee.Mentoring is a vital component of the AU McNair Program and a good faculty mentor is essential forMcNair Scholars. Throughout the year, program participants have the opportunity to conduct high-level,ongoing research under the guidance of their faculty mentor. A special bond of mutual respect andidentification characterized by trust, open communication, creativity, flexibility, and discipline is implied inthis mentor-mentee relationship. The AU McNair mentoring component is designed to provide a mutuallysatisfying experience for both the mentor and the student. The following pages provide a guide for thestudents in going through the mentoring experience.“A mentor is a teacher, a counselor, and a role model who leads his or her mentee throughguidance and who inspires him or her to move forward by providing continuous support,direction and advice.”The AU McNair mentors play the role of trusted teachers, counselors, guides, tutors, and coaches. Theyoffer their mentees advice and guidance on:• Planning their research and academic program, including course selection,• developing research skills to analyze data, present, write about and publish their research, and• planning and preparing for admission into and successful completion of a doctoral degree.Accepting to serve as a faculty mentor is only the beginning of a meaningful and challenging experience. AMcNair mentor should be willing to meet the following program expectations:• Participate in an orientation meeting for effective mentoring of McNair Scholars,• meet with the scholar to prepare semester progress reports (see Forms section),• attend McNair functions (i.e., annual recognition banquet and poster session in September, andannual oral presentation in April), schedule permitting,• meet with the McNair director and or program assistant twice a year,• complete end of the year evaluations, and• keep in close communication with the McNair staff regarding matters that are relevant to theperformance and progress of the scholar.18

2002 McNair Program ManualResearch Expectations:• Help the scholar with identifying a focus area and preparing a research action plan, including atimeline (See Forms Section).• Meet with the scholar to discuss responsibilities and expectations of both parties.• Guide the scholar with conducting serious research in his or her focus area.• Set regular meetings with the scholar to discuss research progress.• Set attainable short and long term goals, review research plans, and assess his or her needs.• Provide support and advice to the scholar as he/she progresses through the research experience.• Provide opportunities for the scholar to design experiments, present results, and publish them.• Stress the importance of keeping a research journal or logbook.• Acquaint the scholar with research methods, data collection, interpretation, and evaluation.• Guide the scholar with preparing his/her annual poster presentation in September.• Guide the scholar with preparing his/her annual oral presentation in April.• Direct the scholar with the writing of a publication quality paper due before the end of his/hersenior year.Personal and Professional Expectations:• Give the scholar sound constructive criticism.• Help the scholar to discover his/her own potential, clarify his/her educational and career goals, andshow him/her ways to achieve those goals.• Provide academic and professional contacts that will help the scholar with the admission process,transition to graduate education, and enhancement of his/her personal and professionaldevelopment• Assist the scholar to find educational, research, and financial resources for graduate education.• Be available to the scholar when he/she needs direction and encouragement.• Help the scholar to improve his/her self-esteem.• Communicate with the scholar openly and honestly.• Help the scholar connect theory with practical application.• Teach the scholar to read and think critically.• Hold the scholar to high standards of academic output.• Serve as resource and referral person for the student.• Serve as the student's role model, friend, and confidante.• Show willingness to help mentee make valuable academic and professional contacts.• Serve as an information base regarding available educational and financial resources,professional/educational associations, graduate programs, departmental practices, etc.19

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MENTEES ✧✧✧✧✧The quality and success of the McNair mentoring experience depend upon the attitude that each mentor andscholar bring to the process: talent, maturity, academic strength, motivation, commitment, desire to learn,creativity, and willingness to accept challenges. Progressing through the research and mentoring experiencerequires a joint effort or “alliance” between the faculty mentor and his/her mentee. McNair mentees havespecific roles and responsibilities which include but are not limited to:• Seeking their mentor's help with identifying a focus area and preparing the research action plan,including a time line (see Forms section).• Meeting initially with their mentor to discuss responsibilities and expectations of both parties, andtheir research goals and expectations.• Being punctual and prepared for all meetings with their mentor.• Discussing their research goals and expectations with their mentor.• Meeting regularly with their mentor to discuss research progress, review research plans and assesstheir needs.• Communicating with their mentors openly and honestly.• Committing to carrying out agreed upon goals.• Keeping a positive attitude and being receptive to advice, counsel, and constructive criticism.• Seeking opportunities to design experiments, present results, and publish them.• Seeking opportunities to learn about research methods, data collection, interpretation, andevaluation.• Committing to the responsibility of being a serious researcher.• Striving to become an integral part of their research team, their department, and the university(network activities).• Staying motivated to achieve maximum benefits of the mentoring relationship.• Preparing their poster presentation each September and their oral presentation each April with thehelp of their mentor.• Writing a publication quality research paper due before the end of their senior year with the theirmentor's help.• Meeting with their mentor to prepare progress reports and end of the year evaluation (see Formssection).• Inviting and encouraging their mentors to attend special functions (i.e., recognition luncheon,poster session in September, and oral presentations in April).• Keeping in close communication with the McNair director or program assistant regarding mattersthat are relevant to the research and mentoring experiences.• Accepting challenges to enrich their overall learning experience.• Identifying academic and professional contacts at prospective graduate programs, with theirmentor's guidance.20

2002 McNair Program Manual✧✧✧✧✧ REWARDS AND BENEFITS OF BEING AN AU McNAIR MENTEE✧✧✧✧✧From the alliance with the program and the mentor, you can gain the following:• Become acquainted with prestigious and nationally recognized educators and researchers in yourdiscipline.• Develop academic and research skills.• Recognize your potential to become a successful educator and researcher.• Learn from a teacher who is willing to take you under his/her tutelage.• Share tasks with an experienced researcher who is willing to show you the ropes and let you growas an individual and as a team player.• Become invigorated with new perspectives that may lead to expanded research opportunities, andopportunities for publications.• Have the opportunity to discover the true meaning of research and relate practice to theory.• Develop skills to relate theory to practice.• Have a confidante, a sponsor, a role model, an advisor, a teacher, and a "door opener," all in one.• Learn to be a "team player" and improve your interpersonal and communication skills.• Learn to become thorough, patient, responsible, curious, and creative.✧✧✧✧✧ SELECTING A FACULTY MENTOR ✧✧✧✧✧As mentioned earlier, selecting a faculty mentor is one of your first and most important tasks. This task is avital element not only to the success of the research and mentoring experiences, but to the success of theMcNair Program. Remember that you are selecting your own mentor; therefore, give yourself the chance tointerview at least two candidates and choose the one that best meets your needs and matches yourpersonality. The following tips are basic factors you should consider during the process of selecting amentor:• Meet with the McNair director, academic/research coordinator, or graduate advisor to seek theirguidance, discuss your interests, ideas and expectations, and get final approval.• Contact your department chair and get a list of the departmental faculty members and theirresearch areas.• Find a faculty member who is serious about research and who is doing research in an area of yourinterest.• Keep in mind that your relationship will be based on affinity of personalities. Look for someonewho is willing to find time to listen to you and guide you.• Look for the kind of person who will be willing to help you to make valuable academic andprofessional contacts.• Look for someone who promotes creativity in research and who is willing to discuss your ideas,objectives, and methods.• Look for somebody who will see you as a mature person, and who will treat you as a graduatestudent.• Look for someone who will serve as an information base regarding available educational andfinancial resources, professional/educational associations, graduate programs, departmentalpractices, etc.• Observe body language during the initial interview with your prospective mentor (is he/she trulylistening to you, or is he/she constantly checking the time, answering the phone, or reading paperson his/her desk? Does he/she appear to be impatient?).• Prepare a simple outline before you meet with your prospective mentor (areas of research interest,personal/research goal, action steps to reach your goals, and time frame).• Prepare a set of questions to ask your prospective mentor.21

2002 McNair Program Manual• Let your potential mentor know that you are very serious in doing research, in publishing inprofessional journals, and in presenting or co-presenting your research findings.• Take a packet of informational materials on the McNair Program to your potential mentor.• Before you make the final decision, seek advice from your department chair, undergraduateacademic advisor, graduate students and, the McNair director or program assistant.Howard G. Adams (1992) suggests three questions that are basic areas to guide the investigative process ofchoosing a mentor:1. Is the potential faculty mentor in a position to share his/her time and advice?2. Does the faculty member have a reputation for producing quality research in a timely manner?3. Is the faculty member's current research area of interest to you, and in keeping with your graduateeducation goals?After selecting your faculty mentor:• Call him/her to set up a meeting to discuss your research project as soon as possible,• before your first meeting, prepare an outline of what you would like to discuss with your mentorregarding her/his or your research interest, and• make an effort to go to the library and familiarize yourself with what has been done in yoursubject in general, and particularly with any work your mentor has done in this or similar subjects.This will help you feel more confident when discussing your project with your mentor.At your first meeting:• Take time to get to know your mentor on a personal level, and let him/her get to know you, andpresent your outline and discuss your ideas,• set up a tentative research action plan with your mentor, including days and times you will workon your research, and tentative deadlines for completion of the various stages, and• clarify responsibilities and expectations.Always…• Keep your mentor appraised of all of the developments in your project, both positive and negative.Remember that your original proposal is not set in stone. If you find out that your original projectis not working out the way you had hoped, or you want to change direction, discuss it with yourmentor.• Express your ideas and opinions in a polite manner but openly and honestly. Your mentor willrespect you for that.• Remember that your mentor is used to working with graduate students who have years to completetheir research and who are extremely self-motivated. He/she may not be used to providing strongguidance, so make sure you ask as many questions as you need to clarify doubts and move to thenext step.22