The director of Mississippi State University's honors program is joining the executive committee of a national collegiate honors group.
Jack H. White, an English professor who has led the University Honors Program since 1984, recently was elected to the 18-member body that directs the National Collegiate Honors Council. He was among four selected by the NCHC membership to serve three-year terms.
Established in 1966, the council has about 700 institutional members representing both four- and two-year colleges and universities. Its offices are located at Radford (Va.) University.
"Dr. White has been actively involved with the organization and has encouraged Mississippi State students to become involved," said Joan Digby of Long Island University, NCHC program chair. Last year, MSU won the top national student newsletter award, she noted.
More than 1,000 students currently make Mississippi State's honors program among the largest in the region. Some 50 classes providing enriched educational opportunities for highly motivated students are available throughout the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, and Business and Industry.
As part of President Malcolm Portera's goal of establishing MSU as a premier public undergraduate teaching institution, the university is expanding its honors course offerings and increasing opportunities for study abroad, internships and independent research.
"Consistent with the university's emphasis on academic quality, the program provides sound classroom experiences with plenty of access to discussion," White said. "We don't impose mandates, except standards of excellence."
In 1997, the Southeastern region of the National Association of Academic Affairs Administrators recognized White with a distinguished service award.
A past chair of the Mississippi Humanities Council, White holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas A&M University at Commerce and a doctorate from Texas Tech.
In addition to a variety of conferences, the National Collegiate Honors Council annually supports student exchanges and provides publications on issues and research in honors teaching, among other activities.
