Engaging McNair Scholars Alumni as Assets and Allies

• In Event: 136 - Open Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 08. Identity, Access and Agency among Race/Ethnic Minority Students

Abstract

The McNair Scholars Program is a federally funded program designed to provide support and services to students from low-income, racially underrepresented, and first generation backgrounds who wish to pursue a graduate education; in particular, a Ph.D. We will discuss the preliminary findings of a qualitative study examining the experiences of McNair Scholars alumni and ways in which McNair alumni can be engaged and involved in McNair Scholars Programs. This is a relevant inquiry because during the recent recession, the Program lost millions of dollars in funding and must continue to be strategic in accessing and utilizing resources. Alumni can serve as sources of highly valuable social capital and cultural capital, which can be shared with current Scholars. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 16 McNair Scholars alumni, the presentation will include a discussion of (1) the challenges programs face in maintaining alumni connections, (2) McNair alumni’s perspectives on and desires for engagement, and (3) recommendations for engaging alumni and creating an alumni network. Preliminary findings suggest that while most alums had positive experiences in the Program and desire to “give back” to the program, Program’s engagement with alums is limited, particularly within the realm of social media.

Authors

• Patricia E Literte, California State University, Fullerton

• Karla Hernandez, California State University, Fullerton