ChE Organizations

Omega Chi Epsilon
Chemical Engineering Honor Society (NMSU Student Chapter)

Purpose

The Society of Omega Chi Epsilon promotes high scholarship, encourages original investigation in chemical engineering and recognizes the valuable traits of character, integrity and leadership. The Society serves both undergraduate and graduate students within the Chemical Engineering Department. It encourages meaningful student-faculty dialogue within the department.

History

A group of chemical engineering students at the University of Illinois met in 1931 to form an organization which would recognize those juniors and seniors who displayed academic excellence and leadership in their profession. They designed a key, petitioned for and received recognition from the University administration, and became the Alpha Chapter of Omega Chi Epsilon. One year later, students at Iowa State University petitioned Alpha Chapter for a charter, which was granted, and the Beta Chapter was formally organized.

By its tenth anniversary, another five chapters had been formed. Records for the thirtieth year (1960-61) show 105 persons initiated from 10 chapters. In its Golden Anniversary year, 1980-81, Omega Chi Epsilon received 705 members from 39 chapters.

The current membership includes over 14,000 men and women from 52 chapters. In 1967, the Society became a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.

Chapter Activities

The variety of chapter activities suggests that recognition alone does not fulfill the aspirations of outstanding chemical engineering students today. A partial list of reported activities follows:

Sponsor and arrange for alumni activities at homecoming.
Maintain a student lounge and library/reading room.
Sponsor student-faculty activities: picnics, banquets, etc.
Assemble chemical engineering graduate school information.
Provide career guidance to high school students.
Provide tutorial services to chemical engineering students.
Conduct course and faculty evaluations.
Administer outstanding student and teacher awards.

New Chapters

New chapters are chartered at those institutions whose first degree in chemical engineering is accredited by AIChE and ABET. A local honor organization must first be established and give evidence of continued existence. Further information may be obtained from the Executive Secretary.

Omega Chi Epsilon provides service to the college of chemical engineering, the entire student body, and the community.