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Chi Epsilon
ΧΕ
FoundedMay 20, 1922; 102 years ago (1922-05-20)
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
TypeHonor Society
AffiliationIndependent
Former AffiliationACHS
StatusActive
EmphasisCivil engineering
ScopeNational
Motto"Conception, Design, Construction"
Colors  Purple and   White
SymbolTheodolite
PublicationThe Transit
Chapters147 chapters
Members125,000+ lifetime
HeadquartersChi Epsilon National Office
Cal Poly State University
College of Engineering,
1 Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo, California 93407
United States
Websitewww.chi-epsilon.org

Chi Epsilon (ΧΕ) is an American collegiate civil engineering honor society.[1] It honors engineering students who have exemplified the "principles of scholarship, character, practicality, and sociability...in the civil engineering profession."[2] As of 2023, there are 141 chapters, of which 137 are active, where over 125,000 members have been inducted.[3]

History

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In early 1922, two local civil engineering student groups–Chi Epsilon and Chi Delta Chi–formed independently at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and petitioned for university recognition.[4] Once the two groups learned of each other, they merged under the Chi Epsilon name.[4] The university approved Chi Epsilon on May 20, 1922, recognized by the society as it founding date,[4] The group had 25 founding members.[4]

Chi Epsilon is "dedicated to the purpose of maintaining and promoting the status of civil engineering as an ideal profession."[2] Its objective and purpose are to uphold competence, sound engineering, good moral judgment, and a commitment to society to improve the civil engineering profession.

The society received a certificate of incorporation from the State of Illinois on February 23, 1923.[4]

Chi Epsilon sent letters to other engineering programs, inviting students to found a chapter.[4] A second chapter was chartered at the Armour Institute of Technology on March 29, 1923.[4]

The society is overseen by student officers at each chapter who act through a National Council. Its headquarters is located at the California Polytechnic State University.

Chi Epsilon marker at Georgia Tech

Symbols

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The society's motto is "Conception, Design, Construction", suggested by the Greek letters Chi Delta Chi, the proposed name for one of Chi Epsilon's predecessor groups.[1]

The colors of Chi Epsilon are purple and white.[1] Its badge is a key made in the likeness of the front of a Theodolite or engineer's transit, the instrument of a surveyor. Its publication is The Transit, published semi-annually in the spring and fall of each year.[1]

Membership

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Male and female undergraduates, graduates, and faculty in civil engineering are all eligible to become members if they meet basic requirements. Undergraduates must be in the top third of their class and have completed at least half of the civil engineering curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree. Members are selected based on scholarship, character, practicality, and sociability, the four primary requirements of a successful engineer.

All candidates must participate in a formal initiation ceremony. After becoming a regular member, anyone who has attained eminence through accomplishments in the profession may become a Chapter Honor Member. The next level of elevation is National Honor Member.

Chapter list

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Main article: List of Chi Epsilon chapters

Notable members

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Collegiate and chapter honor members

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Name Chapter of initiation Notability References
Ira Osborn Baker University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Professor of engineering at the University of Illinois [5]
Thomas B. Berns University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Professor of surveying at the University of Illinois and Illinois House of Representatives [5]
Joseph Colaco University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Structural engineer noted for contributions to the supertall skyscrapers [5]
Hardy Cross University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Developer of the moment distribution method for structural analysis of statically indeterminate structures. [5]
David E. Daniel University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign President of the University of Texas at Dallas and deputy chancellor of the University of Texas System [5]
Robert H. Dodds Jr. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign [5]
Louis R. Douglass University of Colorado Boulder Civil engineer with the United States Bureau of Reclamation and was in charge of Hoover Dam
Daniel C. Drucker University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Dean of Engineering at the University of Illinois [5]
James van Hoften University of California, Berkeley Astronaut for NASA
Fazlur Rahman Khan University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Father of tubular designs for high-rises [5]
Franklin Matthias University of Wisconsin–Madison Civil engineer who directed the construction of the Hanford nuclear site
Ralph Modjeski University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Civil eningeer and pioneer the use of suspension bridges [5]
Nathan M. Newmark University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign one of the founding fathers of earthquake engineering and recipient of the National Medal of Science [5]
Kent Rominger Colorado State University Astronaut and NASA Chief of the Astronaut Office at Johnson Space Center, [6]
Paul J. Tikalsky University of Wisconsin–Madison Dean & Donald and Cathey Humphreys Chair of Engineering at Oklahoma State University. [7]

National Honor Members

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National Honor Members start as collegiate members or chapter honor members but are elevated based on professional achievement. The chapters listed are the original chapter of initiation, followed by the NHM elevation chapter if different.

Name Chapter of initiation Notability References
Stephen Bechtel Jr. Purdue University Businessman and owner of the Bechtel Corporation [8]
Charles B. Breed MIT Head of the Department of Civil and Sanitary Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology [8]
George Dewey Clyde University of Utah Governor of Utah and dean of the Utah State University College of Engineering and Technology
Hardy Cross University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, MIT eveloped the moment distribution method for structural analysis of statically indeterminate structures [8]
Luther W. Graef Marquette University, University of Wisconsin–Madison founder of Graef, Anhalt, Schloemer and Associates Inc. [8]
Henry Townley Heald Illinois Institute of Technology president of Illinois Institute of Technology [8]
William LeMessurier University of Massachusetts Lowell,

MIT

structural engineer for the Boston City Hall, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Singapore Treasury Building, and the Dallas Main Center. [8]
Tung-Yen Lin University of California, Berkeley;

University of Kentucky

Structural engineer who was the pioneer of standardizing the use of prestressed concrete [8]
Daniel W. Mead University of Wisconsin–Madison,

Cornell University

Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison [8]
Ralph Brazelton Peck University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Civil engineer specializing in soil mechanics and recipient of the National Medal of Science [8]
Lewis A. Pick Virginia Tech Chief of Engineers in the United States Army [8]
Leslie E. Robertson University of California–Berkeley,

Stevens Institute of Technology

Structural engineer of the World Trade Center, the U.S. Steel Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Bank of China Tower [8]
Hunter Rouse MIT, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Hydraulician, professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Columbia University, and dean of the University of Iowa College of Engineering [8]
Mario Salvadori Manhattan College,

Cooper Union

Professor of civil engineering and architecture at Columbia University [8]
John L. Savage University of Colorado Boulder Supervised the designs of Hoover Dam, Shasta Dam, Parker Dam and Grand Coulee Dam [8]
David B. Steinman City College of New York Designer of the Mackinac Bridge [8]
Leif J. Sverdrup Missouri University of Science and Technology General with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [8]
Arthur Newell Talbot University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Pioneer in the field of reinforced concrete [8]
Bertram D. Tallamy Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Superintendent of the New York State Department of Public Works and Federal Highway Administrator [8]
Frederick E. Turneaure University of Wisconsin–Madison Dean of engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison [8]
Abel Wolman Drexel University Pioneer of modern sanitary engineering [8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d 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-20–21. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  2. ^ a b "The Constitution and Bylaws of Chi Epsilon" as approved by National Conclave Rolla, Missouri March 9–11, 2006
  3. ^ "About Us". Chi Epsilon. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "About". Chi Epsilon | UIUC Chapter. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Chapter Honor Members". Chi Epsilon | UIUC Chapter. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  6. ^ "Rominger". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  7. ^ "Tikalsky receives Fulbright Specialist Award to Uzbekistan at Namangan Institute of Engineering and Technology". Oklahoma State University Stillwater. May 3, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "National Honor Members". Chi Epsilon. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
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