Portland State University
PA-7: Support for Future Faculty Diversity

McNair Scholars Program: http://www.pdx.edu/mcnair-program/about The Portland State University (PSU) Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program introduces juniors and seniors who are first-generation and low-income, and/or members of under-represented groups to academic research and to effective strategies for getting into and graduating from PhD programs, and works with motivated and talented undergraduates who want to pursue PhDs. The McNair Scholars Program has academic-year activities and a full-time summer research internship. Scholars take academic and skills-building seminars and workshops during the year, and each scholar works closely with a faculty mentor on original research in the summer. Scholars present their research findings at the McNair Summer Symposium and at other conferences, and are encouraged to publish their papers in the McNair Journal and other scholarly publications. The Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program was established in 1986 by the U.S. Department of Education and named in honor of Challenger Space Shuttle astronaut Dr. Ronald E. McNair. The program, which has been on campus since 2003, is funded by a $1,155,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education and institutional cost-share funds. The McNair Scholars Program's student-centered approach relies heavily on faculty and university commitment. Activities and opportunities provided by the program focus on building a positive academic community for the scholars while they are undergraduates at PSU. Teachers Pathways Program: http://www.pdx.edu/education/pathways The Teacher Pathways Program was created to provide clear, teaching career pathways and support for culturally diverse students interested in becoming a teacher in the Portland metropolitan area. We are currently recruiting diverse PSU undergraduates, community college students, instructional assistants, and other career-changers who are considering entering the field of teaching. Program objectives: Increase and support the pipeline of culturally and linguistically diverse students interested in teaching careers Cultivate personal, academic, and professional development with a focus on educational equity and social justice Provide an academic support network and close-knit community of diverse students and educators who share a passion for teaching and social justice equity Promote academic and professional excellence Provide mentorship and opportunities to volunteer in classrooms Program benefits: Throughout each term there will be a variety of activities and support services available to Teacher Pathways participants, including: Specialized advising Tutoring and small group study sessions Personal leadership and educational justice seminars Financial literacy and scholarship workshops aid and financial planning workshops Opportunities to volunteer in K-12 classrooms Mentoring from teachers in the Portland metropolitan area Basic Skills Test Prep and assistance with graduate school and scholarship applications Community service activities