Alpha Epsilon () 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 more than 8,200.
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.It began steady expansion immediately, adding chapters at the University of Illinois, University of Minnesota, University of Arkansas, Purdue University and Virginia Tech. 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 as an associate member of the Association of College Honor Societies in 1968, with full membership achieved in 1970. By 2012, it had 17 active chapters, 148 active members, and 8,144 total initiates.
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 Greek letters and .
Alpha Epsilon's colors 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 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.Chapter autonomy and member requirements are noted in its Constitution, p.4, accessed 27 Sept 2020.
Membership Membership is open to upperclassmen and graduate students of agricultural and biological engineering. Membership selection is based on character, leadership, and scholarship. Prospective members are juniors in the upper quarter of their class, seniors in the upper third of their class, or graduate students who met eligibility as an undergraduate or who have at least a 3.25 GPA after completing seven hours.
Alpha Epsilon has three types of members, active, alumni, and honorary.
Chapters This is a list of Alpha Epsilon chapters, with active chapters indicated in bold and inactive chapters in italics.
NumberChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatus1.Missouri Alpha 1959University of MissouriColumbia, MissouriActiveBetaUnassigned2.Minnesota Gamma1960University of MinnesotaSt. Paul, MinnesotaActive3.Illinois Delta1960University of IllinoisUrbana, IllinoisActive4.Arkansas Epsilon 1961University of ArkansasFayetteville, ArkansasActive5.Indiana Zeta1962Purdue UniversityWest Lafayette, IndianaActive6.Virginia Eta1963Virginia TechBlacksburg, VirginiaActive7.North Dakota Theta1964North Dakota State UniversityFargo, North DakotaActive8.Ohio Iota1965Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OhioActive9.South Dakota Kappa1966South Dakota State UniversityBrookings, South DakotaActive10.Nebraska Lambda1966University of NebraskaLincoln, NebraskaActive11.North Carolina Mu1966North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, North CarolinaActive12.Colorado Nu 1969Colorado State UniversityFort Collins, ColoradoActive13.Texas Xi1969–xxxx ?University of TexasAustin, TexasInactive14.Pennsylvania Omicron1970Penn State UniversityState College, PennsylvaniaActive15.Iowa Pi 1971Iowa State UniversityAmes, IowaActive16.West Virginia Rho1971–xxxx ?West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, West VirginiaInactive17.Michigan Sigma1973Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MichiganActive18.Wisconsin Tau1974University of WisconsinMadison, WisconsinActive19.Oregon Upsilon1976Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OregonActive20.Texas (A&M) Phi1976Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TexasActive21.California (Davis) Chi 1976University of California, DavisDavis, CaliforniaActive22.Maryland Psi 1977University of MarylandCollege Park, MarylandActive23.Kentucky Omega1977University of KentuckyLexington, KentuckyActiveX.Alpha BetaUnassignedX.Beta BetaUnassigned24.Florida Gamma Beta1979University of FloridaGainesville, FloridaActive25.Alabama Delta Beta1980Auburn UniversityAuburn, AlabamaActive26.Oklahoma Epsilon Beta 1981Oklahoma State UniversityStillwater, OklahomaActive27.Kansas Zeta Beta 1983Kansas State UniversityManhattan, KansasActive28.Arizona Eta Beta 1986University of ArizonaTucson, ArizonaActive29.North Carolina Theta Beta1996North Carolina A&T State UniversityGreensboro, North CarolinaActive30.New York Iota Beta 1998Cornell UniversityIthaca, New YorkActive31.Florida (A&M) Kappa Beta 19xx ?Florida A&M UniversityTallahassee, FloridaActive
See also Association of College Honor Societies
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