Background

What is Omega Chi Epsilon?

Omega Chi Epsilon is the National Honor Society for Chemical Engineering. The name is based upon our motto: Ode Chrototos Eggegramai which means In this Society, professionalism is engraved in our minds.

The letters OXE, or their Greek equivalent of WCE, represent Order of Chemical Engineers. There are five main objectives of the society:

1. RECOGNITION	to recognize excellence in chemical engineering
2. INVESTIGATION	to promote original investigation and innovation in chemical engineering
3. SERVICE	to provide service the chemical engineering department or school and its student body
4. COMRADESHIP	to promote comradeship among chemical engineers
5. PROFESSIONALISM	to promote honesty, integrity and social responsibility: the hallmarks of professional ethics

WCE is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies. The Society also has many common goals with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE); we support the AIChE with funds for student awards. We further share many goals with the American Society for Engineering Education. WCE has over 60 active university chapters and total membership of nearly 20,000 men and women. While the chapters are primarily composed of Junior and Senior students, it is also open to graduate students and faculty. In recent years, 2-4 new chapters have been chartered each year.

Organization 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 20,000 men and women from 67 chapters. In 1967, the Society became a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.

About the Beta Epsilon Chapter at U.C.

The Beta Epsilon chapter began as a local Chemical Engineering honor society in 1994 at the behest of 17 Chemical Engineering undergraduate students and Dr. Amy Ciric, the chapter's first advisor. A charter was granted and the Beta Epsilon chapter officially came to into fruition in 1995. It has since initiated 80 student members and 3 associate members.

The chapter participates in many joint activities with the local student chapter of AIChE such as intramural sports and service activities such as Green-up day.

An annual fundraiser is held each year in order to supply the money the chapter needs to carry out its philanthropic duties to the chemical engineering department. A few past donations to the chemical engineering department include: Chemical Engineering textbooks, a microwave oven, a dry erase board and a clock for the undergraduate design lab.