Chi Epsilon

History

Chi Epsilon is the only national honor society composed entirely of persons engaged in the practice of Civil Engineering. In the Spring of 1922, a group of juniors at the University of Illinois decided to organize a local fraternity among students in civil engineering, to be called Chi Delta Chi. At the same time, a group of seniors began planning a similar honor fraternity, the Chi Epsilon. Neither of the organizing groups knew of the other, but both had decided upon the course of action - to organize a fraternity that would recognize the student who excels in the fundamental qualities of a successful civil engineer; and who would use his/her abilities constructively in advancing the civil engineering profession. The two groups learned of each other during petitioning activities and decided to join under the name Chi Epsilon. On May 20, 1922, the petitioners received permission to start and organize the fraternity. Chi Epsilon had become a reality. In 1923, the state of Illinois granted Chi Epsilon a certificate of incorporation as a national honor fraternity. Later that year, Chi Epsilon truly became a national organization when chapters were formed at the Armour Institute of Technology; which later became the Illinois Institute of Technology, and at the University of Minnesota. Anticipating further growth, members at the first conclave modified the original constitution and elected the first Supreme Council, under whose guidance Chi Epsilon continued to expand until there were seven chapters; when the second conclave was held at the University of Illinois in 1926. Today, Chi Epsilon has grown to over one-hundred and twenty chapters and over seventy thousand members.