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ECONOMICS |
The Beta Gamma Chapter of
OMICRON DELTA EPSILON
International Honor Society in Economics
What is the Omicron Delta Epsilon?
Why should you join the ODE?
Who are eligible to join?
How can you join?
What is the Omicron Delta Epsilon?
HISTORY
Omicron Delta Epsilon, one of the world's largest academic honor societies,
was created through the merger of two earlier honor societies, Omicron
Delta Gamma and Omicron Chi Epsilon. At the time of their merger in 1963
each had 28 chapters, those of the former being primarily located in the
Midwestern and Pacific states of the USA, and those of the latter concentrated
at colleges and universities along the Eastern Seaboard and in Texas. Omicron
Delta Epsilon became an international honor society in economics in 1969.
Omicron Delta Epsilon has been a member of the Association of College Honor
Societies since 1981.
Omicron Delta Gamma
(The Order of Artus) was founded in 1915 by John R. Commons, University
of Wisconsin, and Frank Taussig, Harvard University, through the union
of the economics societies of their Universities. The intent of the society
was the encouragement of a closer academic and social relationship between
honor students and faculty on an informal basis, facilitating the exchange
of information and views.
Omicron Chi Epsilon was the younger of the two organizations, having
been founded in 1955 by Alan A. Brown while he was a student at the City
College of New York. From its inception, the society sought to provide
means not only to confer suitable honors on the more promising students
but also to encourage scholarship through organized meetings and conferences
and through the publication of its official journal, THE AMERICAN ECONOMIST,
founded in 1957.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The objectives of Omicron Delta Epsilon are recognition of scholastic attainment
and the honoring of outstanding achievements in economics; the establishment
of closer ties between students and faculty in economics within colleges
and u niversities, and among colleges and universities; the publication
of its official journal, THE AMERICAN ECONOMIST, and the sponsoring of
panels at professional meetings as well as the Irving Fisher and Frank
W. Taussig competitions.
AWARDS
Each year ODE awards
THE IRVING FISHER ARTICLE AWARD, which pays $500 and provides an invitation
to present the paper at the next annual meeting of the American Economic
Association (with travel expenses paid by ODE) and publication of the article
in THE AMERICAN ECONOMIST (at the option of the winner). This competition
is open to ODE graduate students in economics or those members who have
received their Ph.D. or M.A. not more than two years prior to entering
the competition.
In addition, ODE annually awards the FRANK W. TAUSSIG UNDERGRADUATE
ARTICLE AWARD which pays $250 to the winner and $100 to the winner’s ODE
chapter and provides for publication in THE AMERICAN ECONOMIST. This competition
is open to undergraduate ODE members in schools with ODE chapters and to
ODE members who have received their bachelors degree not more than two
years prior to entering the competition.
Biennially, Omicron Delta Epsilon grants the JOHN R. COMMONS AWARD in
memory of one of its founders to an internationally outstanding economist
in recognition of his or her achievements and service both to the economics
profession and to Omicron Delta Eps ilon. Previous winners have been: Evsey
D. Domar, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1965; Arthur Smithies,
Harvard University, 1967; Gerhard Tintner, University of Southern California,
1969; Milton Friedman, University of Chicago, 1971; Kenneth J. Arrow, Harvard
University, 1973; Robert Solow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
1975; William Baumol, New York University and Princeton University, 1977;
Abram Bergson, Harvard University, 1979; Arnold Zelner, University of Chicago,
1981; Dale Jorgenson, Harvard University, 1983; Kenneth Boulding, University
of Colorado, 1985; Gary S. Becker, University of Chicago, 1987; Martin
Feldstein, National Bureau of Economic Research, 1989; and Douglass C.
North, Washington University, 1991.
ORGANIZATION
Currently, Omicron Delta Epsilon has 535 chapters located in the United
States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South
Africa, Egypt, and France. With such a broad, international base, chapter
activities vary widely, ranging from invited speakers, group discussions,
dinners, meetings, etc., to special projects such as review sessions and
tutoring for students in economics. Omicron Delta Epsilon plays a prominent
role in the annual Honors Day celebrations at many colleges and universities.
ADMISSION PROCEDURE
Undergraduate
candidates for election to any chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon must have
completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of economics courses, have earned
at least a B average in the economics courses and have an overall scholastic
average of B or better. They do not necessarily have to be economics
majors, but they must have a genuine interest in economics. A
life-membership fee is paid by each prospective member of Omicron
Delta Epsilon upon his/her election to membership to the Honor Society.
In return, the member receives a membership scroll
and a one-year subscription (two issues) to THE AMERICAN ECONOMIST.
Following the complementary first year's subscription, members are encouraged
to subscribe to THE AMERICAN ECONOMIST. The purchase of the official key
(right) or pin by the initiates is optional but encouraged.
There are no annual dues.
Why join the Omicron Delta Epsilon?
-
Membership is likely to count on your resume.
It traditionally has. The Omicron Delta Epsilon is a highly selective international
honor society. It is the only honor society in Economics that is recognized
by the Association of College Honor Societies. The ODE has chapters in
all major American universities. An ODE membership signals a level of achievement
and involvement that is far above average. The ODE welcomes students from
all disciplines.
-
It is, therefore, no surprise that each ODE member
is given special recognition—by name—in each year’s commencement booklet
at C.W. Post. This applies to students from all majors.
-
Each member receives ODE’s journal The American Economist
for one year (two issues). This journal is so highly regarded that
it is indexed in the Journal of Economic Literature, a relatively rare
honor. And inspite of its academic stature, The American Economist is accessible
to senior undergraduates.
-
National recognition of scholastic achievement in economics.
-
A publication outlet for promising undergraduate and graduate student papers
in The American Economist, the Journal of Omicron Delta Epsilon.
-
Closer academic and professional relationships with the faculty at your
university and other universities which have ODE chapters.
-
Opportunities to present papers at ODE sponsored meetings at the annual
conventions of regional and national associations.
-
Eligibility to compete for the Frank Taussig and Irving Fisher awards (both
cash prizes and publication of essays).
-
Eligibility to compete for the Outstanding Student Leader awards.
-
Membership in ODE is life-long.
Who are eligible to join?
To join ODE you must have taken at least 12 credits
(4 courses) of Economics by the time of application, and you must have
at least a B from your Economics courses and at least a B overall. You
do not need to be an economics major. Payment
of a $30 lifetime membership fee is required. (No part of this
money goes to C.W. Post, any of its academic departments, or any of its
faculty members.) For more information on OMICRON DELTA EPSILON please
stop by the Economics Department at Hoxie Hall, Room 200, or call 516 299
2321.
How can you join?
FOR THE APPLICATION FORM, WHICH REQUIRES
A MINUTE OR TWO TO FILL OUT, CALL THE ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT (516 299 2321)
OR STOP BY ITS OFFICES IN HOXIE HALL.
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