Welcome to NoGAP, SSU's McNair Scholars Program

The NoGAP Program at SSU helps 27 undergraduate students per year continue their postsecondary studies in graduate school. The main purpose of the five-year, renewable grant program is to place more historically underrepresented students in Masters and PhD programs.

Program Participation

To be a NoGAP participant, students must be an undergraduate enrolled at SSU and fit into one of two eligibility categories:

  • be a low-income student and a first-generation college student,
  • be a member of one of the four ethnic minority groups underrepresented in graduate schools (African-American, Latino/Latina [Hispanic], Native American, or Pacific Islander).

NoGAP services can be broken down into three parts:

Part One: Faculty Mentorship and Research Project
Interested SSU faculty agree to mentor one or more McNair Scholars and assist them in completing a research project, include them in academic activities, and help to prepare them for graduate school. Participants who meet NoGAP program requirements receive a stipend for completion of a final research project, which will be published in our academic journal and presented at our annual symposium.
Part Two: Preparation for Applying and Enrolling in Graduate School
The project provides workshops covering various topics such as GRE preparation, statements of purpose, and publishing/presenting research. In addition, NoGAP participants will work with our advisors on an individual basis as they prepare their graduate school applications.
Part Three: Attending Conferences, Campus Visits, and Other Travel
McNair Scholars are encouraged to travel to professional conferences to present their research and visit with faculty at graduate school programs that they are applying to. Participants who meet program requirements may receive funding for this travel.