EWU McNair and our scholars rely on the exceptional support from EWU McNair faculty mentors. Mentors start meeting regularly with students in the spring to get to know them and provide them guidance on beginning the research process, including recommending articles and planning surveys and IRBs. Next, they work with students directly on their research projects for the summer quarter. This may be field or lab work, surveys, interviews, and/or additional reading. Mentors then continue their guidance into the fall, sometimes in additional ongoing research or on completion of the research projects that take longer than just the summer, as well as through the application process. Finally, mentors write the most important letters of recommendation in the student’s graduate school applications.