The honors program new director Michael K. Cundall Jr. started Jan. 4. He will also serve as an assistant professor of philosophy.  

Cundall was brought to A&T to help implement the plan of turning the honors program into the honors college. 

“The honors college would be the next step up for the honor program,” he said.  One of the reasons A&T wants to make the honors program into a college is to keep up with other universities that have already done so.  

He did his undergraduate work at the University of Kentucky and went to graduate school at the University of Cincinnati.  Before coming to A&T he was at Northwestern State University where he proved his ability to transition an academic program into an academic college.

He knew little about A&T’s history and legacy before coming to the university, however he is quickly learning. Still, he already has plans to incorporate leadership elements into the honors curriculum.  He feels that leadership should be taught throughout each major and concentration to coincide with the role A&T played as a leader within the civil rights movement.

The plan of Cundall and the university is to have the honors program completely transformed into the honors college by fall 2012. 

“That gives me 18 months,” he said.  

Cundall wants to increase knowledge of the honors program across campus. 

He is concerned with ensuring instructors, advisors and other persons on campus are knowledgeable of and understands what the honors program is about to better inform students.  

Cundall hopes to make the honors program more visible across campus by moving to the new education building on the first floor.

He also plans to increase the presence of philosophy across campus while serving as an assistant professor.  

Currently, the honors program is located on the third floor of Gibbs and is open to freshman entering the university with a cumulative unweighted GPA of a 3.5 or above or an unweighted cumulative GPA of a 3.7 or above combined with a SAT score of 1050. 

Students who already attend the university may enter the honors program with a cumulative GPA of a 3.5 or above and have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours.  New members are only accepted in the honors program through their first semester of their junior year.  

Some benefits of being in the honors program include special honors on your academic transcript, graduating with honors, smaller classes, and access to special reserved housing.

Cundall hopes to improve the program by emphasizing more undergraduate research, developing a more honors specific curriculum and placing more emphasis on critical thinking and resourcing skills. 

He also wants to make it easier for students transferring into the university to become a part of the honors program. 

“I hope that the program will gain national recognition,” he said.  

Cundall insists that transforming the honors program into the honors college could eventually give honors alumni a “stronger sense of themselves.”

Even though he was brought in to lead the honors program, Cundall believes he can better lead with help from those who have first-hand knowledge. 

Honors students will be asked to give their opinion on what they would like to see within the new college.  

Cundall also said he is willing to take input from anyone interested in the honors program.  

“I’m prepared to sit back and listen,” said Cundall.

• Shequia Cole