Interest in starting a chapter of Chi Epsilon at UAF began in the early 1980s. The first incarnation of the UAF Chapter, Alpha Kappa Chi (AKX), was formed in 1987 in order to recognize those Civil Engineering students who showed exemplary scholastic achievement, character, practicability, and sociability.
Faculty Support aided in establishing the Civil engineering honor society and included the efforts and assistance of several Chi Epsilon alumni. The Alpha Kappa Chi Constitution and Bylaws were fashioned after those of the Chi Epsilon Constitution and Bylaws. From its inception, AKX planned to petition Chi Epsilon for national recognition as their first Alaskan Chapter.
On November 9, 1996 AKX was formally inducted as the 120th Chapter of the National Civil Engineering Honor Society, Chi Epsilon (XE).
The UAF chapter of XE generally works in conjunction with our ASCE student chapter on many projects. The most noteworthy during the past several years are the local Math Counts competitions (today, exclusively a Chi Epsilon function, held in early February), and tours of the School of Engineering's laboratory facilities for junior and senior high school students (for more information on setting up such tours, contact Robert, president).
ASCE activities that members of Chi Epsilon participate in include the construction of the annual Ice Arch and competition in the AISC Steel Bridge Building Competition. A variety of community service projects are being considered to promote the engineering programs and civil engineering in particular.
As the size of our university continues to increase, our XE chapter looks forward to our participation in promoting civil engineering both on campus and throughout the community.
Last modified on 11/13/2003
Please send questions to Robert at fsrnv@uaf.edu or Dr. Dan White at ffdmw@uaf.edu.