Annual Summer Research Institute

Annually, the Kent State University McNair Scholars Program coordinates an eight-week Summer Research Institute (SRI). Thirteen McNair Scholars are selected to participate in the residential program based on their commitment to research and participation in the McNair Program during the Academic Year.

Students are housed in the Honors College residence hall and enroll in a three credit hour Individual Honors course created and designed for Honors theses. Students who complete all requirements for the Summer Research Institute are invited to complete an Honors College thesis and continue their research into the Academic Year.

On the first day of the SRI, students participate in the SRI Orientation. McNair Scholars learn the protocol, policies, procedures and stipend process for the SRI. McNair personnel will announce the assignment due dates for the research proposal, the literature review, homework assignments, the final paper, the final research presentation and Faculty Mentor contact sheets.

Students will commit to a minimum of 30 hours per week for eight weeks to prepare a research project for presentation at the annual KSU McNair Scholars Program SRI Symposium. In addition, students will engage in a weekly meeting, a weekly standardized test preparation course and lab and will meet weekly for a research methods course during the SRI. On Fridays, students may tour graduate schools, visit graduate school fairs, engage in cultural activities, or participate in McNair research conferences. Prior to the end of the SRI, the KSU McNair Scholars Program requires students to present their research at the annual KSU McNair Summer Research Institute Symposium. Students are required to prepare a 15-minute presentation on research they conducted during the 8-week SRI. It is mandatory for students to prepare an abstract, a one-page hand-out for the audience and use PowerPoint for their research presentations.