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Objective and Purpose

Dedicated to the purpose of maintaining and promoting the status of civil engineering as an ideal profession, Chi Epsilon was organized to recognize the characteristics of the individual civil engineer deemed to be fundamental to the successful pursuit of an engineering career, and to aid in the development of those characteristics in the civil engineering student. Engineering, the application of scientific principles to the practical needs of society, is assuming a constantly increasing responsibility for the physical well-being of all people, and thus calling for competence of the highest order. This responsibility can be discharged only by a professional group whose members are possessed of good basic technical ability, intelligence, moral integrity, and effective social poise in their relationship with the larger community of which they are part. To contribute to the improvement of the profession, Chi Epsilon fosters the development and exercise of sound traits of character and technical ability among civil engineers, and its members, by precept and example, toward an ever higher standard of professional service.

History

In the spring of 1922, two groups of civil engineering students at the University of Illinois, one calling itself Chi Epsilon, and the other calling itself Chi Delta Chi, independently of each other, took steps to petition the faculty for permission to establish an honorary civil engineering fraternity. As soon as the existence of the two groups became known to each other, plans were immediately propagated to merge the two groups. Dean M. S. Ketchum, Professor Ira O. Baker, and Professor C. C. Williams, later all chapter honor members, gave moral support to the idea of a departmental honorary fraternity and on May 20, 1922, the Council of the University granted permission to the petitioning group of 25 charter members to found the Chi Epsilon Fraternity. Upon the shoulders of the charter officers R. A. Black, president, W. A. Gurtler, vice president, and H. T. Larsen, secretary-treasurer, rested the burden and trials during the organization period, and it was due to the care and foresight used by these officers in the formulation of the early plans for initial organization and expansion that Chi Epsilon has been able to progress steadily.

As soon as the plans for the local organization had been perfected, steps were taken to expand into a national fraternity by banding together with groups at various other universities. For the furtherance of these plans, a committee composed of William A. Gurtler, chairman, M. W. Burns, and H. T. Larsen was appointed. An active expansion policy was decided upon and letters were written to the presidents of all the large engineering schools inviting petitions to Chi Epsilon. Meanwhile, the petition to the State of Illinois to incorporate as a national honorary civil engineering fraternity was granted and the certificate of incorporation issued on February 13, 1923.

Many encouraging replies were received from various universities, but it was not until March 29, 1923, upon the installation of the Armour Chapter at the Armour Institute of Technology, that Chi Epsilon became truly a national fraternity. April 28, 1923 saw the national organization increase to three chapters upon the installation of the Minnesota Chapter at the University of Minnesota. The work of the Committee on Expansion became very complex and required the assumption of authority for the fulfillment of its plans. With the assumption of authority, the committee finally became the Temporary Supreme Council of the National Fraternity and, in order that it be a representative body, P. L. Bergquist of the Minnesota Chapter, and H. W. Munday of the Armour Chapter, were elected to it. As a result of the active expansion campaign, petitions were received from the Universities of Southern California and Cornell, and the chapters installed on January 5, 1924, and January 10, 1925, respectively. The first Conclave was held at the Armour Chapter in Chicago July 4, 1924, at which twelve members representing four chapters were present. Drastic changes were made in the constitution and general government, most noteworthy being the establishment of an endowment fund for conclave expenses. Members of the first Supreme Council were elected by the conclave, who in turn elected the following officers: W. A. Gurtler, Grand President; P. L. Bergquist, Grand Vice President; C. W. Carlson, Grand Secretary-Treasurer; H. W. Munday, Editor of The Transit; F. M. Hines, member; and M. G. Burkey, member. Due to the temporary slowing up of the work on the national expansion, a special meeting of the Supreme Council was called in Chicago in February 1924. Present at this meeting were Messrs. Gurtler, Carlson, Munday, and Burkey. An extensive campaign was planned with hopes that the number of chapters might be increased within the year, after which time a more conservative policy was to be enacted.

The membership had grown to 190 by February, 1925. The petition of the University of Wisconsin resulted in the installation of the sixth chapter on February 14, 1925, at Madison, Wisconsin. The seventh chapter was installed shortly thereafter at the University of California on May 10, 1925.

The second Conclave of the Chi Epsilon Fraternity was held at the University of Illinois at Champaign, Illinois, October 30, 1926. Present were three members of the Supreme Council, seven delegates, and several members of the Illinois Chapter. Since the time of the first Conclave, 205 members had been initiated, 21 of whom were members of a faculty and four were prominent engineers. Election of the second Supreme Council resulted in the following officers: W. A. Gurtler, Grand President; F. M. Hines, Grand Vice President; H. T. Larsen, Grand Secretary-Treasurer; P. L. Bergquist, member; and H. W. Munday, member. Professor C. C. Williams’s recommended revision of the ritual, which tended to dignify it further, was the outstanding contribution of the second Conclave.

The only petition passed in 1927 was that of the group at the State College of Pennsylvania, which resulted in the installation of the Pennsylvania State Chapter on May 19, 1927. In less than five years, the membership of the fraternity had increased to a total of 535, of which 347 were active, 117 charter, 56 honorary, and 15 alumni members.

(The above is condensed from a short history of Chi Epsilon by W. A. Gurtler.)

In its 84-year history, four men have served Chi Epsilon as its Secretary-Treasurer for 78 of those years: Ray S. Owen (1928-52), John A. Focht (1958-1972), Dexter C. Jameson, Jr. (1972-92), and Robert L. Henry (1992-2006).

One of Chi Epsilon’s founding members, Harold T. Larsen, had a long –term and profound effect on the society. He served two terms as National Secretary/Treasurer in the early years, was a member of the Supreme Council in his late years, and was named Councillor Emeritus in 1958, and remained as such until his death in 1971. The Harold T. Larsen Award was established by the Conclave in 1976 to honor those members who have given “Outstanding Service to Chi Epsilon.”

In the first 35 years of its history Chi Epsilon had established 49 chapters. Since then the society has grown at a steady rate of 20 chapters per decade. Seven chapters (Colorado-Denver,Columbia, Detroit, NYU, South Florida, Washington University, and Yale) have become inactive.

The 22nd National Conclave was held at the University of Illinois, April 6-8, 1972. It was very appropriate for Chi Epsilon to return to the Illinois campus to observe the fiftieth anniversary of its founding. Fifty-eight of the then 78 active chapters had one or more delegates in attendance at this notable conclave. The membership of Chi Epsilon had grown to 28,500 by April, 1972.

The 25th National Conclave voted to change the name of our organization from Chi Epsilon Fraternity to Chi Epsilon. A total of 40,000 members had been initiated since the founding.

Prior to 1956 the Supreme Council had seven members consisting of the President, Vice-President, Secretary- Treasurer, Editor, and three at-large Councillors. In 1956, the Conclave (held at Purdue University) changed Bylaws to create seven districts: Western, Midwestern, Southwestern, Southeastern, North Central, Mid-Atlantic, and New England. One Councillor was elected for each district. As the number of chapters increased and were distributed throughout the country geographically, the society adopted an eleven-district format, but since 1982 has used a ten-district organization.

The ten Councillors are elected by district caucuses at the conclave.

The 38th National Conclave voted to change the name of the Supreme Council to the National Council.

As of the 39th National Conclave, in 2006, the number of chapters had grown to 129, Chi Epsilon membership had exceeded 98,300, including 58 National Honor Members, and 2,205 Chapter Honor Members.

The 40th National Conclave was held in 2008 at Stevens Institute. At the Conclave there were 130 chapters, with a membership of 102,680, including 60 National Honor Members and 2,270 Chapter Honor members.

The 41st National Conclave was held in 2010 at the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa. At the time of the Conclave, there were 135 chapters, with a total membership of 107,300, including 61 National Honor Members and 2,346 Chapter Honor Members.

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Chi Epsilon Constitution

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Preamble

We, the students, faculty, and alumni of the Department of Civil (and Environmental) Engineering at various colleges and universities, believing that a mark of distinction should be placed on the undergraduate who has upheld the honor of the department by high scholastic ability, and believing that a society with the broad principles of scholarship, character, practicality, and sociability would be an incentive to greater achievements in the civil engineering profession, do adopt this constitution as a guiding instrument for this organization.

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ARTICLE I - Name

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be Chi Epsilon.

 

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ARTICLE II - Objects

Section 1. The objects of Chi Epsilon shall be:

(a) To contribute to the improvement of civil engineering profession as an instrument for the betterment of society.

(b) To recognize the fundamental characteristics of the successful civil engineer, and to aid in the development of these characteristics.

(c) To encourage wherever possible any movement which will advance the best interest of engineering education; to actively support, where necessary; and to institute procedures and practices for the improvement of the civil engineering departments at the schools at which chapters of Chi Epsilon are established.

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ARTICLE III - Organization and Membership

Section 1. Organization.

Chi Epsilon shall consist of a National Council and of such chapters as have been or shall be regularly established in engineering schools and colleges, and of such alumni chapters as have been or shall be regularly established.

Section 2. Basis for Membership.

The selection of members shall be based upon Scholarship, Character, Practicality, and Sociability - the four primary requirements of a successful engineer.

Section 3. Chapter Membership.

Membership shall be chosen from among students duly registered in civil engineering, and students registered in directly associated civil engineering options. Membership shall be chosen from among students who have completed at least one-half of the work required for their bachelor’s degree.

Section 4. Chapter Honor Membership.

Chapter Honor Membership shall be in recognition of outstanding professional accomplishment in the field of civil engineering.

Section 5. National Honor Membership.

Election to National Honor Membership shall be in recognition of outstanding professional accomplishment in the field of civil engineering and preeminent contribution to the object and purpose of Chi Epsilon by any of its duly initiated members. No more than two members per biennium shall be elevated to National Honor Member.

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ARTICLE IV - Government

Section 1. Of the National Society

(a) The government of Chi Epsilon shall be vested in a duly authorized National Conclave and a duly elected National Council.

(b) The National Conclave shall consist of the National Council, and an official delegation consisting of one active undergraduate or graduate member elected from each active chapter in good standing with the Society. Each official delegate attending the conclave and each member of the National Council shall have one vote.

(c) The National Council shall be composed of members of Chi Epsilon, none of whom shall be an under graduate member, with the number established by the Conclave.

(d) The United States of America shall be divided into districts composed of geographically grouped chapters, with one member of the National Council selected as councillor from each district.

(e) A District Councillor for a specific district shall be elected by a two-thirds vote of the delegates from that district at a conclave. In the event a two-thirds vote cannot be obtained, the conclave shall elect the councillor by a majority vote.

(f) A conclave may elect other councillors from time to time.

(g) The president and vice president shall be elected from members of the National Council by the National Conclave. The remaining national officers shall be selected in accordance with the Bylaws.

(h) The National Conclave shall transact all business pertaining to Chi Epsilon except such as may be otherwise delegated. It shall have the authority to levy assessments on the chapters and members for its own support and that of the National Council.

(i) Between conclaves, the National Council shall have the power to conduct the business of Chi Epsilon and to interpret the Constitution and Bylaws.

(j) The National Council may designate up to four of its members as an Executive Committee to plan conclaves and make other recommendations to the National Council between council meetings.

Section 2. Of the Local Chapters.

(a) Each chapter shall have full control of its individual affairs, subject to the Constitution and Bylaws of Chi Epsilon.

(b) The officers of the local chapters shall be elected from the active members of those chapters.

(c) Each chapter shall have a Faculty Advisor, who shall be elected by the chapter. Faculty Advisors must be members of Chi Epsilon.

(d) New initiates will be selected and elected by the chapter, subject to the Constitution and Bylaws of Chi Epsilon.

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ARTICLE V - Meetings

Section 1. National Conclaves and chapter meetings shall be held periodically for the purpose of transacting Chi Epsilon business.

Section 2.A National Conclave may be called by the National Council. Active chapters may petition the National Council for a National Conclave.

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ARTICLE VI - Dissolution

Section 1. In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of the organization will be turned over to one or more organizations which themselves are exempt as organizations described in sections 501(c)(3) and 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or corresponding sections of any prior or future law or to the Federal, State, or Local government for exclusive public purpose.

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ARTICLE VII - Methods of Amending

Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by a three-quarters vote of the official delegates and members of the National Council present at a National Conclave, followed by the ratification of three-quarters of the active chapters. The chapter ratification vote shall require approval of three-quarters of the total active membership of the chapter.

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Taken from The Constitution and Bylaws of Chi Epsilon
As Approved By National Conclave
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
March 11-13, 2010

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