In the fall of 1980, students in the Department of Architectural Engineering & Construction Science at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas formed an interest group to consider creating an academic honorary society.[1] They were assisted by Charles Bissey, professor of architectural engineering and construction science.[2] As a result, Kappa Sigma Alpha Epsilon (KSAE) was established.[1] In the spring of 1981, its seven charter members and eight pledges were installed.[1] Bissey served as the group's academic advisor.[1][3]
After other architectural engineering programs expressed an interest in joining KSAE, a discussion took place during the 1983–84 academic year.[1] The group became a national academic honorary society in the fall of 1984, with the name change to Phi Alpha Epsilon.[1] The honor society's function was to reward academic achievement in architectural engineering and to recognize outstanding alumni.[1][4]
Charter of the Beta chapter at the University of Kansas
Kansas State University was chartered as the Alpha chapter of Phi Alpha Epsilon in the spring of 1985.[1] Bissey served faculty advisor for the Alpha chapter until his retirement in December 2003.[1][2] A second chapter, Beta, was chartered at the University of Kansas on November 3, 1984.[5] Other chapters following, including Delta at the University of Texas at Austin in 1998 and Eta at Tennessee State University in 1995.[6][7]
As of 2025, Phi Alpha Epsilon has chartered at nine chapters, with four remaining active.[1][5][6][7]Alpha chapter is located at 918 North Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Manhattan, Kansas.[8]
Symbols
The society's colors are purple and white.
Activities
Members of Phi Alpha Epsilon hold social events and tutor for department classes.[9]
The society offers scholarships to its members through its Phi Alpha Epsilon Scholarship fund.[10] The fund was established with $6,900 in gifts from architectural firms and architectural engineering graduates.[10] In 1998, Duane Henderson, one of the Phi Alpha Epsilon's founding members, expanded the scholarship fund with a gift of $14,000.[10] The scholarship fund is managed by the Kansas State University Foundation.[10]
Membership
Phi Alpha Epsilon members must be a junior or a senior seeking a degree in architectural engineering who have completed fifteen hours in the program with at least a 3.25 grade point average.[4][9] Students who qualify for membership receive an invitation to join.[11][5] New members are inducted once each semester.[4][9]
Chapters
Following is a list of Phi Alpha Epsilon chapters, with active chapters indicated in bold and inactive chapters in italics.
^Marshals, Student (1988-05-04). "Campus / Student Marshalls". Centre Daily Times. State College, Pennsylvania. p. 23. Retrieved 2025-04-02 – via Newspapers.com.
^"People You Know". The York Dispatch. York, Pennsylvania. 1991-03-21. p. 78. Retrieved 2025-04-02 – via Newspapers.com.
^"School/Youth". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. 2001-05-24. p. 71. Retrieved 2025-04-02 – via Newspapers.com.
