Alpha Epsilon

Alpha Epsilon (ΑΕ) is a scholastic honor society recognizing academic achievement among students in the fields of Agricultural, Food, and Biological Engineering. It has thirty active chapters across the United States and a total membership of around 8,000.

Alpha Epsilon
ΑΕ
FoundedMay 14, 1959 (1959-05-14)
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
TypeHonor
AffiliationACHS
EmphasisAgricultural, Food, and Biological Engineering
ScopeNational
ColorsBlack   and   Gold
SymbolHorn of Plenty, Plow, T-square and Compass
Chapters30 active
Headquartersc/o ASABE
2950 Niles Road
St. Joseph, Michigan 49085
United States
WebsiteAlpha Epsilon Honor Society home page

History

Alpha Epsilon Honor Society was founded at the University of Missouri on May 14, 1959, to recognize academic achievement among students in the field of Agricultural Engineering. The purpose of the society, as outlined in 1959 is:

To promote the high ideals of the engineering profession, to give recognition to those agricultural engineers who manifest worthy qualities of character, scholarship, and professional attainment, and to encourage and support such improvements in the agricultural engineering profession to make it an instrument of greater service to mankind. [1]

It began steady expansion immediately, adding chapters at the University of Illinois, University of Minnesota, University of Arkansas, Purdue University and Virginia Tech.[1] The first six chapters met to formally adopt a national constitution and bylaws four years after its founding, on December 11, 1963. While the Society's initial focus was Agricultural Engineering, this was later expanded to include Food Engineering, and Biological Engineering.

Alpha Epsilon was admitted to the Association of College Honor Societies in 1968, with full membership achieved in 1970. The society meets annually in conjunction with the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). The two organizations cooperate but are managed by two separate executive boards. They share a website and physical mailing address.

Symbols

Alpha Epsilon's crest is in the form of a shield with a banner displaying the name of the society, "Alpha Epsilon," The shield is further decorated with three symbols, the Horn of Plenty, a plow, and a T-square and a compass. These symbols represent the place of agricultural engineering in the production of food and fiber. At the top of the shield is the center portion of the key with the letters Α and Ε.[1]

The colors of the society are black and gold. Its badge is a key, etched in the back with the name of the owner, the name of the chapter, and the year of the member's initiation. The motto of the Society is not made public.

Governance

Chapters are fairly autonomous and allowed to manage their activity broadly. One commonality that is shared by many groups is the provision of tutoring services to students in the Agricultural sciences.[2]

Membership

Membership is offered to those juniors who are in the upper quarter of their class, and seniors in the upper third. Prospective members must already be members of the ASABE. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible for collegiate membership. The society allows for three types of members: Honorary, Active, and Alumni.[1][2]

Chapters

This is a list of Alpha Epsilon chapters.[1][3] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italic.

Number Chapter Chartered/Range College or University Location Status References
1. Missouri Alpha 1959 University of Missouri Columbia, Missouri Active
Beta Unassigned [lower-alpha 1]
2. Minnesota Gamma 1960 University of Minnesota St. Paul, Minnesota Active
3. Illinois Delta 1960 University of Illinois Urbana, Illinois Active
4. Arkansas Epsilon 1961 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Active
5. Indiana Zeta 1962 Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana Active
6. Virginia Eta 1963 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia Active
7. North Dakota Theta 1964 North Dakota State University Fargo, North Dakota Active
8. Ohio Iota 1965 Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Active
9. South Dakota Kappa 1966 South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota Active
10. Nebraska Lambda 1966 University of Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska Active
11. North Carolina Mu 1966 North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina Active
12. Colorado Nu 1969 Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Active
13. Texas Xi 1969–xxxx ? University of Texas Austin, Texas Inactive
14. Pennsylvania Omicron 1970 Penn State University State College, Pennsylvania Active
15. Iowa Pi 1971 Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Active
16. West Virginia Rho 1971–xxxx ? West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia Inactive
17. Michigan Sigma 1973 Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan Active
18. Wisconsin Tau 1974 University of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin Active
19. Oregon Upsilon 1976 Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon Active
20. Texas (A&M) Phi 1976 Texas A&M University College Station, Texas Active
21. California (Davis) Chi 1976 University of California, Davis Davis, California Active
22. Maryland Psi 1977 University of Maryland College Park, Maryland Active
23. Kentucky Omega 1977 University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky Active
X. Alpha Beta Unassigned [lower-alpha 2]
X. Beta Beta Unassigned [lower-alpha 3]
24. Florida Gamma Beta 1979 University of Florida Gainesville, Florida Active
25. Alabama Delta Beta 1980 Auburn University Auburn, Alabama Active
26. Oklahoma Epsilon Beta 1981 Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Oklahoma Active
27. Kansas Zeta Beta 1983 Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas Active
28. Arizona Eta Beta 1986 University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona Active
29. North Carolina Theta Beta 1996 North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, North Carolina Active
30. New York Iota Beta 1998 Cornell University Ithaca, New York Active
31. Florida (A&M) Kappa Beta 19xx ? Florida A&M University Tallahassee, Florida Active
  1. Neither Baird's nor the online chapter list notes the use of a Beta chapter designation.
  2. Neither Baird's nor the online chapter list notes the use of an Alpha Beta chapter designation
  3. Neither Baird's nor the online chapter list notes the use of a Beta Beta chapter designation

See also

References
  1. Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VI-4. ISBN 978-0963715906. Baird's Manual is also available online here: The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  2. Chapter autonomy and member requirements are noted in its Constitution, p.4, accessed 27 Sept 2020.
  3. "Alpha Epsilon Chapters". ASABE - American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
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