THIS BILL AND TWO OTHERS RELATED TO TRANSGENDER SPORTS RESTRICTIONS.

ALSO AT THE CAPITOL, REPUBLICANS COULD WITHHOLD PAY RAISES FOR STATE EMPLOYEES OVER DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION POSITIONS AT THE UNIVERSITIES OF WISCONSIN, BUT FEDERAL DOLLARS CONTINUE TO FUND A PROGRAM OFFERED AT SEVEN OF THE UNIVERSITIES THAT HELPS UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS NAVIGATE HIGHER ADDICTION.

ADITI DEBNATH HAS MORE ON THAT PROGRAM'S IMPACT ON THE UW-OSHKOSH CAMPUS.

>> ORIGINALLY WHEN I WENT INTO McNAIR, I WANTED TO BE A MEDICAL ILLUSTRATOR.

I WANTED TO DRAW PICTURES FOR TEXTBOOKS, THOSE POSTERS YOU SEE IN DOCTORS' OFFICES BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE TO DRAW, BUT NOW I'M NOT TRYING TO DO THAT AT ALL.

NOW I'M TRYING TO GET A Ph.D.

IN BIOTECHNOLOGY.

>> Reporter: DOMINIC IS A UW-OSHKOSH McNAIR SCHOLAR.

HE JUST COMPLETED THE PROGRAM SUMMER RESEARCH WHICH CULMINATES IN A PUBLIC PRESENTATION OF HIS FINDINGS.

>> McNAIR IS REALLY A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR FIRST GENERATION UNDERREPRESENTED AND LOW INCOME STUDENTS.

>> Reporter: THIS FEDERALLY FUNDED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS DEEMED A SUCCESS BY THOSE IN IT.

EVEN AS REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE WANT TO PROHIBIT STATE FUNDED PROGRAMS AIMED AT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

THE McNAIR PROGRAM GRANTS ITS SCHOLARS $4,000 TO CONDUCT THEIR OWN RESEARCH AND RECEIVE ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP FROM A FACULTY MEMBER.

>> RESEARCH I'LL BE PROTECT TODAY IS ON BACTERIA AND LAKE WINNEBAGO.

>> BRITNEY DUPREE BE ALSO DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT BEFORE BECOMING A McNAIR SCHOLAR.

>> I WAS LOOKING AT PRAIRIE RESTORATION AROUND CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM'S DIRECTOR, CORDELIA, SAYS McNAIR IS PART OF A PIPELINE OF PROGRAMS THAT HELPS STUDENTS FROM DISADVANTAGED PROGRAMS BE SUCCESSFUL IN COLLEGE.

>> IT HAS A LONG TRACK RECORD OF HUGE SUCCESS, IT HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN WASHINGTON.

>> Reporter: BOWLUS IS REFERRING TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING DESIGNATED TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN EDUCATION.

>> OF THE APPROXIMATELY 200 STUDENTS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH OUR PROGRAM IN THE LAST 16 YEARS, 60 PEST OF THEM ARE EITHER -- 60% OF THEM ARE EITHER IN GRADUATE SCHOOLS OR HAVE CAREERS.

>> Reporter: THIS YEAR, UW-OSHKOSH WILL RECEIVE $260,000 FROM McNAIR AND IS ONE OF SEVEN UNIVERSITIES IN WISCONSIN THAT OFFERS THE PROGRAM.

>> THEY'RE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY ENRICH THE UNIVERSITY.

>> Reporter: PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT UW-OSHKOSH, DR. BELYNDA PINKSTON, ADVISES McNAIR SCHOLARS THROUGH EACH STEP OF THE PROGRAM.

>> WE MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO FOCUS ON PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR OUR SCHOLARS AND PROVIDING AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY FEEL SUPPORTED AND WHICH THEY FEEL SEEN AND HEARD.

>> Reporter: BEYOND THAT, PROGRAMS LIKE McNAIR GIVE STUDENTS THE SPACE TO CONNECT WITH PEERS THAT HAVE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> I THINK WE DO A GOOD JOB KIND OF OF REPRESENTING WHAT EDUCATION CAN DO FOR PEOPLE AND WHERE IT CAN LEAD.

>> Reporter: HIS MOTHER, BLANCA JUAREZ, TRAVELED TO OSHKOSH TO SEE HIS PRESENTATION.

>> I'M A REALLY, REALLY PROUD MAMA BECAUSE I KNOW HE'S DOING WHAT'S IN HIS HEART.

HE REALLY WANTS TO DO IT, HE WANTS TO CLEAN THE LAKE, AND HOPEFULLY OLDER STUDENTS CONTINUE WITH THIS PROGRAM AND WITH THIS PROGRAM THAT THEY CHOSE THIS SUMMER.

>> DR. PINKSTON, WHO ONCE WAS A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT, SAYS PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND HIGHER EDUCATION IS JUST AS BENEFICIAL TO A COMMUNITY AS IT IS TO EACH STUDENT.

>> AND SO IT'S NOT JUST INTRINSIC, WHAT AM I GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS.

IT'S ABOUT HOW CAN I GIVE BACK, AND WE HELP CULTIVATE THAT DESIRE IN THEM TO GIVE BACK.

>> Reporter: FOR BRITNEY DUPREE AND HER MOTHER, McNAIR REALLY IS ABOUT ENABLING THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> I AM A PERSON ABOUT SCHOOL.

I WOULD SUPPORT HER IN ANY WAY.

I AM SO PROUD OF HER AND WHAT SHE'S ACHIEVED SO FAR.

>> Reporter: FOR "HERE & NOW,"