Alpha Epsilon Rho

International electronic media honor society

Alpha Epsilon Rho

ΑΕΡ
Founded| April 30, 1943; 81 years ago (1943-04-30)
Stephens College
Type| Honor
Affiliation| ACHS
Emphasis| Electronic Media
Scope| International
Colors|  Red and  Green
Members| 80,000 lifetime
Nickname| AERho
Headquarters| c/o Broadcast Education Association, 1 M Street SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
United States
Website| www.beaweb.org/wp/aerho/

Alpha Epsilon Rho (ΑΕΡ) is an international scholastic honor society recognizing academic achievement among students in the field of electronic media (including web/internet technologies, broadcasting, mass communication, radio, television, cable, and/or film). The honor society is managed as part of the larger Broadcast Education Association (BEA).

## History[edit]

Stephens College students interested in radio technology formed a recognition group called Beta Epsilon Phi on December 1, 1941.[1] With an interest in national expansion, the group reached out to similarly inclined students at other institutions, including representatives from Syracuse University and the University of Minnesota.[1] A series of meetings were held at the Institute for Education by Radio, in Columbus, Ohio, resulting in the creation of a new national organization.[2]

The new national organization adopted the name Alpha Epsilon Rho on April 30, 1943, which is considered its founding date.[3][1] On April 13, 1947, radio station at Syracuse University began regularly scheduled broadcasts on the FM band using the call sign letters of WAER (W Alpha Epsilon Rho).[4][5]

In 1975, the organization became a part of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, changing its name to The National Broadcasting Society - Alpha Epsilon Rho (NBS-AERho), indicating its change from a recognition society into a professional society.[3] In 1977, it had 56 active chapters and 11,600 initated members.[6]

As a unit of the National Broadcasting Society (NBS), Alpha Epsilon Rho would later become an honor society.

Alpha Epsilon Rho was admitted to the Association of College Honor Societies in 2009. Alpha Epsilon Rho became affiliated with Broadcast Education Association (BEA) on May 1, 2023.[7]

## Symbols[edit]

The society's colors are red and green, symbolizing courageous ambition and growth.[1] Later, this was updated to red representing energy and courage, with green symbolizing faithfulness and integrity.

Its badge was in the shape of a microphone with seed pearls along either side, with the Greek letters ΑΕΡ across the top.[1] Its emblem combined a stylized single-sprocket film cell, a poly-directional microphone, and the front turret of a three-lens camera into a symbol that was on top of a stylized motion picture film frame.[6]

The society's creed is:

> To bind together, in a fraternal and professional bond, men and women dedicated to the future, the development, and the profession of the field of electronic media. To make responsibility our action, achievement our goal, and excellence our ideal, realizing that the trust placed within us, with our profession, can change the destiny of the world.[7]

## Chapters[edit]

Originally, AERho chapters were assigned names according to the Greek alphabet. The Greek letter names were dropped when AERho changed from a recognition society to a professional society in 1975.[6]

Following is a list of Alpha Epsilon Rho chapters.[1][6] Inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.

Chapter  | Charter date  | Institution  | Location  | Status  | References

|
|
|
|
|

Alpha  | April 30, 1943 | Stephens College | Columbia, Missouri |  |
Beta  | 1943  | Syracuse University | Syracuse, New York |  |
Gamma | 1943–before 1977  | University of Minnesota |  | Inactive  |
Delta | 1943–1957  | Michigan State University | East Lansing, Michigan | Inactive  |
Epsilon | 1943–before 1977  | Ohio State University | Columbus, Ohio | Inactive  |
Zeta | 1945–1946  | Siena Heights University | Adrian, Michigan | Inactive  |
Eta  | 1945  | University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, Alabama |  |
Theta | 1945–before 1977  | University of Oklahoma | Norman, Oklahoma | Inactive  |
Iota | 1946–1958  | University of Utah | Salt Lake City, Utah | Inactive  |
Kappa | 1946–1950  | Cornell University | Ithaca, New York | Inactive  |
Lambda | 1946–1952  | Purdue University | West Lafayette, Indiana | Inactive  |
Mu | 1946–1958  | University of Nebraska | Lincoln, Nebraska | Inactive  |
Nu  |  |  |  | Unassigned?  |
Xi | 1946–1961  | Miami University | Oxford, Ohio | Inactive  |
Omicron | 1947–before 1977  | Brigham Young University | Provo, Utah | Inactive  |
Pi | 1947–1959  | Baylor University | Waco, Texas | Inactive  |
Rho | 1948–1960  | Shurtleff College | Alton, Illinois | Inactive  |
Sigma  |  |  |  | Unassigned ?  |
Tau | 1948–before 1977  | Lindenwood University | St. Charles, Missouri | Inactive  |
Upsilon | 1948–1958  | University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Inactive  |
Phi | 1948–before 1977  | University of Texas at Austin | Austin, Texas | Inactive  |
Chi | 1949–before 1977  | Texas Western University | El Paso, Texas | Inactive  |
Psi | 1959–before 1977  | Boston University | Boston, Massachusetts | Inactive  |
Omega | 1950–before 1977  | University of Miami | Coral Gables, Florida | Inactive  |
Alpha Alpha | 1958–1960  | Butler University Jordan College of Music  | Indianapolis, Indiana | Inactive  |
Alpha Beta | 1950–before 1977  | University of Florida | Gainesville, Florida | Inactive  |
Alpha Gamma | 1950–before 1977  | Ohio Wesleyan University | Delaware, Ohio | Inactive  |
Alpha Delta | 1950–1960  | Gunnison Chapel (St. Lawrence University)  | Canton, New York | Inactive  |
Alpha Epsilon | 1952–before 1977  | University of the Pacific | Stockton, California | Inactive  |
Alpha Zeta | 1952–1958  | Emporia State University | Emporia, Kansas | Inactive  |
Alpha Eta  | 1952  | Kansas State University | Manhattan, Kansas |  |
Alpha Theta | 1953–1957  | University of Evansville | Evansville, Indiana | Inactive  |
Alpha Iota ?  | 1956  | University of Kentucky  |  |  |
Alpha Kappa | 1953–before 1977  | Millikan University | Decatur, Illinois | Inactive  |
Alpha Lambda | 1953–before 1977  | Eastern Illinois University | Charleston, Illinois | Inactive  |
Alpha Mu  | 1954  | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, California |  |
Alpha Nu | 1955–before 1977  | Texas Christian University | Fort Worth, Texas | Inactive  |
Alpha Xi | 1959–before 1977  | Ohio University | Athens, Ohio | Inactive  |
Alpha Omicron  | 1958  | San Diego State University | San Diego, California |  |
Alpha Pi | 1959–before 1977  | Wayne State University | Detroit, Michigan | Inactive  | [8][a]
Alpha Rho | 1959–before 1977  | University of California Los Angeles | Los Angeles, Califonia | Inactive  |
Alpha Sigma  | 1959  | University of Tulsa | Tulsa, Oklahoma |  |
Alpha Tau ?  | 1958  | University of Washington  |  |  |
Alpha Upsilon | 1959–before 1977  | San Francisco State University | San Francisco, California | Inactive  |
Alpha Phi | 1958–before 1977  | University of Houston | Houston, Texas | Inactive  |
Alpha Chi  |  |  |  | Unassigned ?  |
Alpha Psi  | 1959  | University of Kansas | Lawrence, Kansas |  |
Alpha Omega  | 1960  | Ithaca  | Ithaca, New York |  |
Beta Alpha  | 1960  | Murray State University | Murray, Kentucky |  |
| 1965  | Detroit  |  |  |
| 1967  | Cal State, Long Beach  |  |  |
| 1968  | Southern Illinois  |  |  |
| 1969  | Central Missouri State  |  |  |
| 1969  | Memphis State  |  |  |
| 1970  | San Bernadino Valley  |  |  |
| 1970  | South Carolina  |  |  |
| 1970  | Texas Tech  |  |  |
| 1970  | Wisconsin Oshkosh  |  |  |
| 1971  | Arizona State  |  |  |
| 1971  | CUNY Brooklyn  |  |  |
| 1971  | South Carolina Professional Chapter  |  |  |
| 1972  | Central Michigan  |  |  |
| 1972  | SUNY Oswego  |  |  |
| 1973  | Cal State Northridge  |  |  |
| 1973  | Indiana  |  |  |
| 1973  | Oklahoma State  |  |  |
| 1974  | Delta State  |  |  |
| 1974  | Northeast Lousiana  |  |  |
| 1975  | Morehead  |  |  |
| 1975  | NYU  |  |  |
| 1975  | Northern Illinois  |  |  |
| 1976  | Arkansas State  |  |  |
| 1976  | Auburn  |  |  |
| 1976  | Glassboro  |  |  |
| 1976  | James Madison  |  |  |
| 1976  | Norfolk  |  |  |
| 1976  | SUNY Buffalo  |  |  |
| 1976  | Shaw  |  |  |
| 1976  | Southwest Texas  |  |  |
| 1976  | Virgina Tech  |  |  |
| 1976  | Winthrop  |  |  |
| 1976  | St. Clair County Community  |  |  |
| 1977  | Appalachian  |  |  |
| 1977  | Arkansas Little Rock  |  |  |
| 1977  | Black Hawk College  |  |  |
| 1977  | Boston College  |  |  |
| 1977  | Cincinnati  |  |  |
| 1977  | Gannon  |  |  |
| 1977  | Towson  |  |  |
| 1977  | Youngstown State  |  |  |

1. ^ Chapter formed from the Radio Guild, a local group established in 1946.

## See also[edit]

* Honor society
* Professional fraternities and sororities

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 640-641.
2. ^ "Organizational History Factoids". www.nbs-aerho.org. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
3. ^ a b Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. V-67–68. ISBN 978-0963715906.
4. ^ "About Us". www.waer.org. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
5. ^ Speach, Amy (Fall 2017). "The WAER Connection" (PDF). Syracuse University Magazine. Vol. 34, no. 3\. Syracuse University. pp. 46–47. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
6. ^ a b c d Anson, Jack L. and Marchesani Jr. Robert F., eds. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 20h edition. Indianapolis: Baird's Manual Foundation, 1991, p. V67–V68. ISBN 0-9637159-0-9
7. ^ a b "AERho | BEA - The Broadcast Education Association". Retrieved 2024-05-27.
8. ^ "Alpha Epsilon Rho". Wayne State University Libraries. Retrieved May 27, 2024.

* v
* t
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Association of College Honor Societies

Currently active members|

* Alpha Beta Gamma
* Alpha Chi
* Alpha Epsilon
* Alpha Epsilon Delta
* Alpha Epsilon Rho
* Alpha Eta Mu Beta
* Alpha Iota Delta
* Alpha Kappa Delta
* Alpha Kappa Mu
* Alpha Lambda Delta
* Alpha Phi Sigma
* Alpha Pi Mu
* Alpha Sigma Lambda
* Alpha Sigma Mu
* Alpha Sigma Nu
* Beta Gamma Sigma
* Beta Kappa Chi
* Beta Phi Mu
* Chi Epsilon
* Chi Sigma Iota
* Delta Epsilon Sigma
* Delta Mu Delta
* Delta Tau Alpha
* Epsilon Pi Tau
* Epsilon Pi Phi
* Gamma Theta Upsilon
* Kappa Mu Epsilon
* Kappa Omicron Nu
* Kappa Tau Alpha
* Lambda Pi Eta
* Lambda Sigma
* Mortar Board
* Mu Kappa Tau
* National Society of Collegiate Scholars
* National Society of Scabbard and Blade
* Omega Chi Epsilon
* Omega Rho
* Omicron Delta Epsilon
* Phi Alpha
* Phi Beta Delta
* Phi Eta Sigma
* Phi Lambda Sigma
* Phi Sigma
* Phi Sigma Iota
* Phi Sigma Tau
* Phi Upsilon Omicron
* Pi Delta Phi
* Pi Gamma Mu
* Pi Kappa Lambda
* Pi Sigma Alpha
* Pi Tau Sigma
* Pi Theta Epsilon
* Psi Beta
* Psi Chi
* Rho Chi
* Sigma Beta Delta
* Sigma Delta Pi
* Sigma Lambda Alpha
* Sigma Lambda Chi
* Sigma Pi Sigma
* Sigma Tau Delta
* Sigma Theta Tau
* Tau Alpha Pi
* Tau Sigma Delta
* Theta Alpha Kappa
* Upsilon Pi Epsilon
* Xi Sigma Pi

Active former members|

| Honor Society Caucus|

* Omicron Delta Kappa
* Phi Beta Kappa
* Phi Kappa Phi
* Sigma Xi

|

* Alpha Delta Mu
* Alpha Omega Alpha
* Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha
* Eta Kappa Nu
* Golden Key
* Iota Sigma Pi
* Kappa Delta Pi
* Order of the Coif
* Pi Alpha Alpha
* Pi Omega Pi
* Sigma Gamma Tau
* Tau Beta Pi

Defunct former members|

* Delta Phi Delta
* Lambda Iota Tau
* Omicron Nu
* Sigma Tau

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