Welcome to NoGAP, SSU's McNair Scholars Program

The NoGAP Program at SSU helps 25 undergraduate students per year continue their postsecondary studies in graduate school. The main purpose of the four-year, renewable grant project is to place more historically underrepresented students in American graduate schools. Eligible students must be low-income and first-generation college students or belong to an underrepresented ethnic group.

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 include them in professional academic activities, including research activities, to help prepare them for graduate school. Participants who meet NoGAP program requirements may receive a stipend of up to $2,400 to complete the research project, which will be published in an 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 preparing the symposium presentation. 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 and present their research and visit with faculty at Ph.D. granting institutions that they are applying to. Participants who meet program requirements may receive funding for this travel.

If you have any questions about our program, please contact Daniel Smith at daniel.smith@sonoma.edu.