Pi Epsilon Tau () is an American honor society for petroleum engineering students. Its purpose is to maintain the standards and high ideals of the petroleum engineering profession and to build a bond between its members and the industry. The society was established in 1947 at the University of Oklahoma.
History Faculty member Paul S. Johnson established Pi Epsilon Tau at the University of Oklahoma in November 1947 as an honor society for petroleum engineering students."Petroleum Fraternity Seeks National Rank". The Oklahoma Daily. Norman, Oklahoma. 1948-03-11. p. 22. – via Newspapers.com."National Fraternity Chapter Will Be Established at Tech". Lubbock Evening Journal. 1949-11-02. p. 19.– via Newspapers.com. It was officially recognized by the university on January 7, 1948. The honor society's purpose is to maintain the standards and high ideals of the petroleum engineering profession and to build a bond between its members and the industry.
Pi Epsilon Tau's founders planned to expand it to other campuses, creating a national honor society. Its Beta chapter was established at the University of Tulsa in 1948. Gamma was formed at Texas Tech University in 1949. Other chapters were established at colleges across the United States.
It is governed through a national council of five members and a national convention.
Symbols The emblem or key of Pi Epsilon Tau is shaped like an oil derrick, standing on the base of an isosceles triangle. Its flag features the emblem on top of a three-leaf clover that symbolizes Saint Patrick.
The society's colors are black and gold. Its flower is the red rose. Its pledges are called "roustabouts".
Membership Membership in Pi Epsilon Tau is open to juniors, seniors, and graduate students studying petroleum engineering based on academic achievement, leadership, and sociability. Pi Epsilon Tau has three classes of members: active (students), honorary, and alumnus.
Chapters Following are the chapters of Pi Epsilon Tau, with active chapters indicated in bold and inactive chapters in italics. ChapterCharter dateInstitutionLocationStatusAlpha1947University of Oklahoma Norman, OklahomaActiveBeta1948University of TulsaTulsa, OklahomaActiveGamma1949Whitacre College of Engineering, Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TexasActiveDeltaLouisiana State UniversityBaton Rouge, LouisianaActiveEpsilonUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CaliforniaInactiveZeta 1951Marietta CollegeMarietta, OhioActiveEtaUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CaliforniaActiveThetaPennsylvania State UniversityState College, PennsylvaniaActiveIotaLouisiana Tech UniversityRuston, LouisianaActiveKappa1970University of Texas at AustinAustin, TexasActiveLambdaWest Virginia UniversityMorgantown, West VirginiaActiveMuMissouri University of Science and TechnologyRolla, MissouriActiveNuMississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MississippiActiveXiMontana Technological UniversityButte, MontanaActiveOmicronTexas A&M UniversityCollege Station, TexasActivePi New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologySocorro, New MexicoInactiveRhoUniversity of Louisiana at LafayetteLafayette, LouisianaActiveSigma University of WyomingLaramie, WyomingActiveTau Colorado School of MinesGolden, ColoradoActiveUpsilonTexas A&M University–KingsvilleKingsville, TexasActivePhiUniversity of HoustonHouston, TexasActive
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