Recently, the U.S. Department of Education cut $10 million from the McNair program. This funding cut will eliminate more than one-third (36.5%) of the current programs. With the federal government’s recent maneuvers to eliminate other graduate education programs, such as the Jacob K. Javits Fellowship, the urgent need for action is clear. If Congress ratifies the actions of the Department, hundreds of undergraduates will no longer benefit from the McNair program beginning in the Fall of 2012. This would compound the loss of 80,500 other low-income, first-generation students, adult learners, veterans, and students with disabilities that TRIO has experienced since FY 2005.

We need your help in the fight to restore, continue and advance McNair and all TRIO programs in FY 2013 and beyond.

Summary Advocacy Activities to Save McNair (.pdf), Myths vs. Facts (.pdf), Action Packet (.pdf), Talking Points (.pdf)  Congresswoman Gwen Moore's Letter to Secretary Duncan Re: McNair Program Funding (.pdf) (October 2, 2012)  Ronald McNair Program to See $10M Fund Cut (USA TODAY) (September 13, 2012)  McNair Scholars Program Fights to Keep Funding (BLACK ENTERPRISE) (September 12, 2012)  U.S. Department of Education to Make $10 Million Cut to the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program (DAILY SUNDIAL) (September 4, 2012)  Another Cut for Grad Student Aid (INSIDE HIGHER ED) (August 15, 2012)  Minorities Face Cuts to the McNair Scholars Program (THE HORN) (August 3, 2012)  UW System Protests Federal Cuts to Minority Scholarship Program (WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL) (July 22, 2012)  Congressman Ruben Hinojosa's Letter to Secretary Duncan Re: McNair Program Funding (.pdf) (July 13, 2012)  Proposed Cuts for McNair Scholars Program (BLACK AMERICA WEB) (June 20, 2012)  North Dakota Delegation Letter to Secretary Duncan Regarding McNair and VUB Funding (.pdf) (June 7, 2012)  McNair Program Cuts Could Hamper Efforts to Boost Number of Minorities Holding Doctoral Degrees (.pdf) (DIVERSE) (June 7, 2012)  Astronaut’s Widow Rallies High School Students to Support Federal Education Program in His Honor (.pdf) (June 7, 2012)  COE Urges Federal Policymakers to Support Funding for McNair Scholars Program (.pdf) (June 6, 2012)  New York Senators' Letter of Concern to Secretary Duncan over McNair Cuts (.pdf) (June 4, 2012)