Our mission is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the Nation.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

Higher Education Programs

August 29, 2013

Dear McNair Program Participants:

As you know, the McNair Program provides Federal financial assistance in the form of discretionary grants 

to institutions of higher education and combinations of those institutions for the purpose of providing academic and 

other support services to prepare low-income, first-generation college students for doctoral study. Also, McNair 

Program grantees are required to submit performance reports to collect consistent project data from all grantees.

The Department uses the information collected to make decisions on whether to issue non-competing continuation 

grants to funded grantees under the McNair Program. In addition, the information contained in the reports is used to 

assess prior experience points during the competitive cycle of the program. 

The TRIO Programs Annual Performance Report (APR) System collects individual student records on individuals 

served by the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program. The individual student records include 

personally identifiable information such as social security number (SSN), name, date of birth, as well as information 

on each individual’s eligibility for services and the student’s academic progress.

Privacy Act Statement

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law No. 93-579, 5 U.S.C. 552a), you are hereby notified that 

the Department of Education is authorized to collect information to implement the Ronald E. McNair 

Postbaccalaureate Achievement program under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (Pub. 

Law 102-325, Sec. 402D). In accordance with this authority, the Department receives and maintains personal 

information on participants in the McNair program. The principal purpose for collecting this information is to 

administer the program, including tracking and evaluating participant progress. Providing the information on this 

form, including a social security number (SSN) is voluntary; failure to disclose a SSN will not result in the denial of 

any right, benefit or privilege to which the participant is entitled. The information that is collected on this form will 

be retained in the program files and may be released to other Department officials in the performance of their 

official duties.

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice

Paperwork Burden Statement: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to 

respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting 

burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 11 hours per response, including time for reviewing 

instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and 

reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is retain or obtain benefit 

(Public Law 104-13, as amended). Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this 

collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department of Education, 400 

Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20210-4537 or email ICDocketMgr@ed.gov and reference the OMB Control 

Number XXXX-XXXX. Note: Please do not return the completed application to this address.

Sincerely,

Federal TRIO Programs

U.S. Department of Education