Theta Tau

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"ΘΤ" redirects here. For the foundation, see Theta Tau Educational Foundation.
Theta Tau
ΘΤ
The crest of ΘΤ
Founded October 15, 1904; 114 years ago (1904-10-15)
University of Minnesota
Type Professional
Emphasis Engineering
Scope United States
Motto "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;..." ~Ecclesiastes 9:10
Colors Dark Red       and Gold      
Symbol Hammer and Tongs, Gear
Flower Jacqueminot
Jewel Dark Red Garnet
Publication The Gear of Theta Tau
Chapters 85, 66 active, (10 colonies)
Members 20,000+ collegiate
30,000+ lifetime
Headquarters 1011 San Jacinto, Suite 205
Austin, Texas 78701
USA
Website www.thetatau.org

Theta Tau (ΘΤ) is a co-ed professional engineering fraternity. The fraternity has programs to promote the social, academic, and professional development of its members. Today, Theta Tau is the oldest and largest professional engineering fraternity in the United States and has a membership of men and women who study engineering on over 80 campuses.

The fraternity was first founded by four engineering students at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota as the "Society of Hammer and Tongs" on October 15, 1904. Its founders were Erich J. Schrader, Elwin L. Vinal, William M. Lewis, and Isaac B. Hanks. The name was changed to Theta Tau at the fraternity's first national convention at the University of Minnesota in 1911. Since then, approximately 30,000 members have been initiated.

The Theta Tau Central Office is located in Austin, Texas.

Symbols[edit]

The primary symbols of Theta Tau are the Hammer and Tongs, and the gear wheel.

The fraternity's open motto is "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;..." – Ecclesiastes 9:10

The flag of Theta Tau is broken into four quadrants, alternately colored dark red and gold. In the upper left corner is the crest of Theta Tau. In the opposing corner are Greek letters ΘΤ in gold. There is also an alternate flag that is divided into three parts and colored dark red/gold/dark red. The letters ΘΤ in dark red are found in the center section.

The fraternity's colors are dark red and gold, while its gem is the dark red garnet. The more common pyrope garnet, used in the member's badge, is used based upon color and availability.

The oldest symbol of the fraternity still in use is the coat of arms adopted in 1906. It may only be displayed or worn by members.

Theta Tau Jewelry[edit]

The official pieces of Theta Tau jewelry are listed below:

  • Pledge Pin
  • Official Recognition Button
  • Greek Letter Recognition Button
  • Coat of Arms Recognition button
  • Colony Pledge Pin
  • Colony Pin
  • Gear (brother) Pin
  • Member’s Badge
  • Alumni Charm
  • Founders’ Size Coat of Arms
  • Annual Award Key
  • Identification Pin with Convention/Leadership Academy Bar Attached

Notable alumni[edit]

The following notable alumni of Theta Tau are also members of the "Theta Tau Alumni Hall of Fame":[1]

Other notable alumni:

History[edit]

Founding years (1904–1911)[edit]

Ecc. 9:10 chairs in Irish Cathedral

Theta Tau was founded as the "Society of Hammer and Tongs," on October 15, 1904, by Erich Julius Schrader, Elwin Leroy Vinal, William Murray Lewis, and Isaac Baker Hanks, mining engineering students at the University of Minnesota. They agreed that character qualifications should have top priority in membership selection.

Its principal founder, Erich Schrader, wanted to establish a fraternity similar to those already existing in law, medicine, and dentistry. Schrader established a record of service and served as its first Grand Regent until 1919 and then for 35 years as Grand Scribe. At its Founders' Golden Anniversary Convention (1954), Theta Tau established the position of Counselor which only he could hold. His continued to serve until his death in 1962 at the age of 81. The other founders also maintained interest in the fraternity throughout their lives. The last, Vinal, died in 1971.

Schrader was chiefly responsible for the Ritual, Constitution, and the Bylaws adopted by the founders. The first badge was a gold skull with the letters Θ and Τ on its forehead and a crossed hammer and tongs beneath. The constitution provided for the establishment of additional chapters at other leading engineering schools, and the fraternity soon began to expand nationally. Hanks spoke of the fraternity to his friend, Robert Downing, a member of the Rhombohedron Club at Michigan College of Mines; after correspondence and an inspection trip by Hanks, the club (established in 1903) was installed as Beta Chapter in 1906. Lewis transferred to the Colorado School of Mines and contacted the Square Set Club, which became Gamma Chapter in 1907. The Southwestern Alumni Association, the fraternity's first, was established in Douglas, Arizona, in 1908.

In 1911, representatives of the three chapters and the alumni association met at the University of Minnesota for the first national convention. The name was changed to Theta Tau, a revised ritual was approved, and the present badge was adopted. Perhaps most important for its future expansion, they decided that Theta Tau would include all branches of engineering.

Pre-World War II growth (1911–1935)[edit]

In the next two years, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, and Eta Chapters were installed. The second convention was held in Houghton, Michigan, in 1913. That Convention designated The Gear of Theta Tau as the national fraternity's magazine and appointed Jack E. Haynes, A '08, as its first editor-in-chief. Previously, the magazine had been published by Beta Chapter with Herman H. Hopkins, B '08, as editor. Hopkins, a member of the Rhombohedron Club, had been initiated by Beta Chapter as an alumnus. He served until 1919 as the Grand Scribe and later (1935) was elected Grand Regent.

The third (1915) and fourth (1919) conventions were held in Cleveland, Ohio. Meanwhile, Theta, Iota, and Kappa Chapters were installed. Elected as Grand Regent in 1919 was Dr. George D. Louderback, E '96, a charter member of Epsilon Chapter. During his tenure, rapid growth continued, with nine more chapters being installed.

J. Sidney Marine, H '21, was elected Grand Regent in 1925, the youngest to serve in that position. In 1926, Donald D. Curtis, O Hon. '19, was appointed editor. He reorganized the magazine and established membership files still in use. He later (1950–1952) served as Grand Regent.

Three more chapters were installed during the terms of Grand Regent Dr. Richard J. Russell, E '19. He designed and issued the first 5,000 membership certificates and also designed the officer robes.

Joseph W. Howe, O '24, and Paul L. Mercer, O '21, became Editors of The Gear in 1929 and for 32 years diligently maintained regular semiannual publication despite economic conditions.

Fred Coffman, L '22, served as Grand Regent during the depression years through 1935. Despite the conditions, three more chapters were installed. A period of very conservative extension began during the thirties with charters generally being granted only to petitioning long-established locals.

World War II history (1935–1944)[edit]

Regional Conferences were established during Hopkins' term as Grand Regent (1935–37). Dr. John M. Daniels, N Hon. '22, was the last to serve out his term as Grand Regent in the pre-World War II period. At the 1939 convention, Russell G. Glass, S '24, the first of two charter members of Sigma Chapter to serve in the Fraternity's top position, was elected Grand Regent and reelected in 1941. In 1940, Grand Regent Glass made a nationwide tour visiting nearly every chapter and many alumni associations. At the 1941 Convention, Theta Tau began a tradition of honoring a student chapter delegate as the convention's "Outstanding Delegate."

During World War II, conventions were discontinued and chapters decreased in size, but few went inactive. Brother Hopkins was named Acting Grand Regent for the 27-month period that Grand Regent Glass served abroad in the Navy. When conventions were resumed in 1946, Ralph W. Nusser, Z '28, was elected Grand Regent. During his term, the chapters grew unusually large due to the influx of returning veterans. Norman B. Ames, GB '17, the charter member responsible for Gamma Beta Chapter's affiliation with Theta Tau, was elected Grand Regent in 1948. He was later to succeed founder Schrader as Grand Scribe.

Post World War II (1944–1962)[edit]

Donald D. Curtis, who a few months after his initiation into the fraternity had been appointed Editor in 1926, added to his years of continuous service as a national officer and began his term as Grand Regent in 1950. Another longtime officer, Jamison Vawter, Z '16, was elected Grand Regent for the term concluding Theta Tau's first half century. He had served for 27 years as Grand Treasurer and was honored by being the first for whom a Theta Tau Convention was named (1935).

The Founders' Golden Anniversary Convention was held in Minneapolis and was scheduled to include Founders' Day. It was a gala occasion marred only by the absence of founder Schrader and Editor Howe due to illness. It was attended by founders Lewis and Vinal and by many Past Grand Regents, including brother Louderback.

A. Dexter Hinckley, T '25, was elected Grand Regent at the 1954 Convention. During his first term, Brother Ames, newly elected Grand Scribe, resigned to accept a Fulbright Lectureship in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). On his return, he visited schools as Special Representative of the Executive Council to promote extension. The position of Regional Director was established by the 1956 Convention.

At the 1958 Convention, Charles W. Britzius, A '33, was elected Grand Regent, the restriction of membership to those who were white was removed, and the Fraternity appropriated funds to support extension efforts.

Robert E. Pope, Z '52, was appointed Grand Scribe in April 1956 to succeed Ames, was repeatedly elected to that office for 38 years, and was first employed by the fraternity as Travelling Secretary in October, 1959.

William E. Franklin, Z '57, then assistant editor, was appointed editor-in-chief of The Gear in 1961, succeeding Howe and Mercer. He served until 1969.

Vietnam years (1962–1976)[edit]

At the convention in 1962, William K. Rey, M '45, was elected Grand Regent, and the fraternity established the position of Executive Secretary (now Executive Director) to which Pope was appointed. In 1963, for the first time, the fraternity had a central office. Britzius, retiring as Grand Regent, was elected Grand Treasurer, a position he was to hold for twelve years. The decade of the 1960s was one of moderate growth with seven new chapters installed. Annual alumni gifts, now so important to the fraternity, were first solicited in 1964.

The convention in 1964 adopted the colony program as the standard route which a local fraternity would follow in becoming a Theta Tau Chapter. It also adopted the official flag featuring four quadrants – dark red in upper left with the coat of arms and lower right with stepped gold letters "ΘΤ." The other two quadrants are gold.

The four items of official jewelry remain the member's badge, gear pin (called "sister pin" until 1994), pledge insignia, and official recognition button. Other insignia have been adopted over the years. The colony program sparked design of the simple colony pin, and colony pledge pin, and contributed to adoption of an alternative flag divided along its length into three equal sections, the left and right dark red with gold in the center bearing dark red letters Θ and Τ arranged vertically. Other jewelry items are the Greek letter and coat of arms recognition buttons, alumni charm, and Greek letter lavaliere. The coat of arms is also available as a tie tac, in "Founders' size," on a ring, cuff links, and the "annual award key." Available since 1989 is the identification pin displaying the crest (hand grasping hammer and tongs) and gear wheels with the member's name, chapter, and year engraved on its face. To this may be attached an engraved bar for each Theta Tau national meeting attended by the member.

The 1966 Convention elected C. Ramond Hanes, '24, another Sigma charter member, as Grand Regent. The 1968 Convention elected Dr. Charles E. Wales, '53, an Epsilon Beta charter member, as Grand Regent. The position of Student Member of the Executive Council was created in 1970.

The Executive Council Bulletin, in newsletter format, was first published during the 1970–72 biennium. Now generally issued monthly during the school year, it provides timely news and reminders to officers of the national Fraternity, chapters, and alumni organizations.

F. Garn Hatch, ZB '56, edited the Fall 1970, issue of The Gear, the first issue with 8-1/2x11-inch page size. He was succeeded by James M. Walter, Phi '68, who served through 1975, and then Steven A. Williams, LB '73, editor-in-chief, through 1977. During this period the page size returned to 7x10 inches.

Dr. George G. Dodd, Z '60, was elected Grand Regent in 1972; and the Delegate-at-Large (immediate Past Grand Regent) was made officially a member of the Executive Council. The 1976 Convention elected as Grand Regent Stephen J. Barth, LB '67, a charter member of Lambda Beta Chapter, the first second-generation Theta Tau to hold this position. In 1977, a plan adopted by the 1976 Convention was implemented, making women eligible for membership with Delta chapter at Case Western Reserve, being one of the first to actually admit women.

A new era (1976–1991)[edit]

Returning to the tradition of editors-in-chief from Omicron Chapter, Richard A. Rummelhart, O '76, was appointed to this position in 1978 and was succeeded by Arthur T. Petrzelka, O '79, who edited the magazine 1979–88. With the Spring, 1979, issue, The Gear adopted the standard 8-1/2x11-inch page size which has been continued.

The first membership directory in forty years was published in 1979, and others in 1985, 1990, and 1994. A History of Theta Tau, compiled by Past Grand Regent Charles W. Britzius, was published in 1980. Regional Conferences were replaced by a special Convention in 1981, establishing the pattern of holding national meetings annually in August rather than biennially in the week after Christmas.

In 1982, A. Thomas Brown, M '77, like Brother Barth, a member's son, was elected Grand Regent. During 1983, Theta Tau purchased its first computer; moved the central office from the Executive Secretary's home to space in the Theta Xi Memorial Headquarters Building in the St. Louis suburb of Creve Coeur; held its first National Conference; and first employed a second member, Dean W. Bettinger, T '81, as Extension Director/Chapter Consultant. Since then, others have been employed for limited periods, including Michael T. Abraham, EB '92, who served as administrative assistant in 1988 and briefly in 1989.

The Theta Tau Alumni Hall of Fame was established in 1986 to honor those members of the Fraternity who have distinguished themselves through the excellence of their contributions to their professions and/or to the fraternity. A chapter or the Executive Council may nominate no more than two annually. From among the nominees, the Selection Committee may name no more than five to be inducted at the national meeting each year. Beginning with the founders, a total of sixty-three have been inducted over the years (twenty-one of them posthumously). Each laureate is presented with a plaque, and their name is engraved on a large plaque displayed in the central office and at each national meeting.

Randall J. Scheetz, O '79, was first elected Grand Regent in 1986. The fraternity experienced significant growth during his tenure with the installation of eight chapters and the certification of thirteen colonies. This extension effort was sparked by Jerome R. Palardy, EB '90, (then Student Member of the Executive Council) in the Detroit area (Xi Beta, Omicron Beta, and Phi Beta Chapters resulting, the latter installed in 1991). Highlighting extension at other schools was the reestablishment of Pi and Gamma Beta Chapters (inactive since the late 1970s). Other chapters installed were Pi Beta, Rho Beta, Sigma Beta, and Tau Beta; and four new alumni clubs were authorized.

The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest originated at Purdue University in 1949 as a competition between Phi Chapter of Theta Tau and Triangle held annually until 1956. Phi Chapter revived the contest in 1983 as a competition open to all Purdue students. From 1988 to 2013, the Theta Tau Rube Goldberg Machine Contest was a national competition held at Purdue University in March each year with participation by winning entries from local competitions sponsored by Theta Tau Chapters across the nation. The national contest gained much coverage by the press and television media.

Sean Donnelly, T'88, and Lawrence El-Hindi, T '87, were appointed co-editors-in-chief of The Gear of Theta Tau in 1988. At the direction of the Executive Council, the Central Office staff assumed responsibility for the regular publication of the magazine beginning with the Spring 1994, issue. In 1996, the Executive Council appointed as the Board of Editors, Robert E. Pope, editor-in-chief, and Michael T. Abraham. Although it had remained nominally a semiannual periodical, for a variety of reasons its publication had sometimes been irregular during the previous quarter century.

Dean W. Bettinger, who had served as a staff member in 1983, was first elected Grand Regent at the 1990 Convention and subsequently reelected in 1992 and 1994. During his tenure, nine chapters were installed: Upsilon Beta, Phi Beta, Chi Beta, Psi Beta, Tau (reestablished), Omega Beta, Delta Gamma, Epsilon Gamma, and Zeta Gamma; and six colonies certified.

The Theta Tau Outstanding Student Member Program was created in 1991 so each chapter could designate an outstanding student member for recognition by the national fraternity. The criterion for selection is service to the fraternity (at any level) during the previous calendar year. The national fraternity provides an engrossed certificate and an award dangle which the recipient displays on their badge's guard chain. One of these each year is selected as the fraternity's Outstanding Student Member with the announcement made at the national meeting. The national honoree is presented with a special certificate and with a jeweled dangle.

The present day (1991-present)[edit]

In 1991, the central office moved to the 655 Office Building in the Creve Coeur Executive Office Park. Michael T. Abraham returned as a permanent staff member with the title Assistant Executive Director in 1992 and was elected Grand Scribe in 1994. In 1994, the appointive position of Executive Director was added to the Executive Council. Pope, who had served on staff for 37 years, retired in 1996 and was designated Executive Director Emeritus by the Executive Council. Abraham was appointed Executive Director.

Lee C. Haas, Rho '62, was elected Grand Regent in 1996 and reelected in 1998. He was instrumental in establishing the Theta Tau Educational Foundation in 1998 and served as its first President. In 1999 the foundation sponsored the fraternity's first Leadership Academy replacing the National Conference. He presided at the installation of Eta Gamma, Theta Gamma, and Iota Gamma Chapters.

At the fraternity's first convention held in Arizona, Glen A. Wilcox, Omega '90, was elected Grand Regent. At the 2000 meeting, many structural changes were made in the constitution and bylaws to more fully integrate the central office into the laws. These changes reflected many practices already in place and allowed the Executive Council to focus on its responsibilities as the fraternity's Board of Directors. The convention also endorsed the national fraternity liability insurance standard adopted by the Executive Council in the Spring 1999.

In 2000, past Grand Regent Haas presided at the installation of Kappa Gamma Chapter at the Virginia Commonwealth University. VCU had begun its engineering school in 1996 with 92 students, and a Theta Tau Colony was established with the assistance of eleven brothers, including Lee Haas and Michael Livingston. Grand Regent Wilcox presided at the installation of Lambda Gamma at Clemson University on January 13, 2001, and he later presided at the installations of Mu Gamma and Nu Gamma in the spring of 2003.

In November 2001, the central office moved from the St. Louis metropolitan area to Austin, Texas, and the fraternity's archives were moved from a room in the Alpha Chapter House to the central office.

As the fraternity reached its Centennial in 2004, Theta Tau had initiated over 30,000 members and had more active student chapters than at any time in its history. At the 2004 Convention, Michael D. Livingston, Gamma Beta '92, was elected Grand Regent. During his terms, Omicron Gamma, Pi Gamma, Rho Gamma, Sigma Gamma, Tau Gamma, Upsilon Gamma, Phi Gamma, Chi Gamma, Psi Gamma, Omega Gamma, Zeta Delta, Eta Delta, Theta Delta, and Iota Delta chapters were installed. Additionally, Kappa, Epsilon, and Epsilon Delta, Pi Delta were re-installed/installed as a result of dedicated and persistent efforts of Steven Choi, Zeta '05.

In 2007, the central office moved from leased office space to its first fraternity-owned headquarters. The roughly 1,500-square-foot (140 m2) office condo is located at the corner of 11th and San Jacinto within blocks of the capitol and university in downtown Austin, Texas. In the same year, the National Alumni Club of Theta Tau was created and work began on keeping interested alumni active and involved in support of the fraternity and the Theta Tau Educational Foundation.

In 2009, Grand Vice Regent Justin G. Wiseman, Xi Beta '95, created Chapter Advisory Teams to provide greater local support for each chapter by utilizing more alumni in support of them. These teams commonly consist of a faculty, house corporation, mature alumni, and recently graduated alumni advisers. In the spring of 2010, Grand Marshal Brandon Satterwhite, Mu '98, led a group of students and alumni on the fraternity's first national service project with the Habitat for Humanity chapter in Bonnell, Florida. Late in 2010, Allison Pollard, Tau Beta '05 (who has served as inGear Editor since 2008) created a Theta Tau Style Guide to counsel chapters on appropriate, proper, and attractive uses of Theta Tau's name, letters, and symbols in print and online.

In late 2010, the Central Office began a major data migration that will enable greater remote oversight and tracking by volunteer leaders. This transition represented the most extensive technological change since 1983 (the first computerization) with less significant changes having been made in 1991 (Unix-based) and 2000 (PC-based). As 2011 began, numerous additional colonies were established.

Controversies[edit]

In April 2018, Syracuse University permanently expelled Theta Tau after the student newspaper published videos of Theta Tau members behaving in ways that the university chancellor considered to be "extremely racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, sexist and hostile to people with disabilities." [2]

Conventions[edit]

The purpose of the biennial National Convention is to bring together brothers from all chapters together to work out the business of the fraternity. Since 1999, the Leadership Academy of the Theta Tau Educational Foundation has replaced the odd-year national conferences.

Number-Name Year Location Named to Honor Outstanding Delegate Schrader Award Founders' Award Notes
1st 1911 Minneapolis, Minnesota N/A N/A Name was changed to Theta Tau; Decided to include all branches of engineering
2nd 1913 Houghton, Michigan N/A N/A Designated The Gear of Theta Tau as the national magazine
3rd 1915 Cleveland, Ohio N/A N/A
4th 1919 Cleveland, Ohio N/A N/A
5th 1921 Lawrence, Kansas N/A N/A
6th 1923 Iowa City, Iowa N/A N/A
7th 1925 Columbus, Ohio N/A N/A
8th 1927 Chicago, Illinois N/A N/A
9th 1929 Minneapolis, Minnesota N/A N/A
10th 1931 Fayetteville, Arkansas N/A N/A
11th 1933 Chicago, Illinois N/A N/A
12th 1935 Kansas City, Missouri Jamison Vawter N/A N/A
13th 1937 Chicago, Illinois H.H. Hopkins N/A N/A
14th 1939 Chicago, Illinois Pi N/A
15th 1941 St. Louis, Missouri Max D. Crittenden Beta N/A
16th 1946 Louisville, Kentucky John M. Daniels William L. Sparks Mu N/A
17th 1948 Chicago, Illinois Russell G. Glass Donald D. Blanchard Beta N/A
18th 1950 Kansas City, Missouri Ralph Nusser Thomas E. Mutchler Upsilon N/A
19th 1952 West Lafayette, Indiana Norman B. Ames Peter A. Minderman Sigma N/A
20th 1954 Minneapolis, Minnesota Founders Robert E. Pope Beta N/A
21st 1956 Columbus, Ohio Donald D. Curtis John M. Dealy Chi N/A
22nd 1958 Madison, Wisconsin George Louderback George G. Dodd

Raymond J. Sullivan

Zeta N/A
23rd 1960 Detroit, Michigan Erich J. Schrader Jack A. Grimmett Zeta N/A
24th 1962 Louisville, Kentucky Paul L. Mercer Michael D. Martin Omicron N/A
25th 1964 Columbus, Ohio A. Dexter Hinckley John E. Daniel Phi N/A
26th 1966 Minneapolis, Minnesota William M. Lewis Anthony E. Filip Phi N/A
27th 1968 Tuscaloosa, Alabama Isaac B. Hanks Allan T. Mense Phi N/A
28th 1970 Houston, Texas Elwin L. Vinal H. Thomas Collins Epsilon Beta N/A
29th 1972 Nashville, Tennessee Charles W. Britzius Thomas R. Herman Lambda Beta N/A
30th 1974 Indianapolis, Indiana Charles E. Wales Frank T. Philpott, George Puls III Lambda Beta Rho
31st 1976 Rapid City, South Dakota Robert E. Pope A. Thomas Brown Lambda Beta Upsilon
32nd 1978 Columbus, Ohio J.W. Howe John R. McClellan Lambda Beta Tau

Nu Beta

33rd 1980 Tuscaloosa, Alabama George G. Dodd Randall L. Patton Kappa Beta Mu
34th 1981 Madison, Wisconsin William K. Rey Dean W. Bettinger
35th 1982 Houston, Texas Stephen J. Barth John C. Roberts Kappa Beta Alpha
1983 Conference 1983 Fayetteville, Arkansas Russell G. Pittman, Stephen D. Willner
36th 1984 Lawrence, Kansas J. Sidney Marine Randy L. Saunders Phi Tau
1985 Conference 1985 Raleigh, North Carolina David Leong
37th 1986 St. Louis, Missouri C. Raymond Hanes Michael T. Abraham, Pierre J. LaMere Kappa Beta Kappa Beta
1987 Conference 1987 Detroit, Michigan Michael J. Palmer
38th 1988 St. Louis, Missouri Nick Trbovich Carl W. Woodward Kappa Beta Omicron
1989 Conference 1989 Columbus, Ohio Michael R. Benoit
1990 Convention 1990 Iowa City, Iowa A. Thomas Brown Robert T. Utzinger Kappa Beta Omicron
1991 Conference 1991 Detroit, Michigan Carl E. Sickles
1992 Convention 1992 St. Louis, Missouri Richard J. Russell Tracy A. White Mu Zeta
1993 Conference 1993 West Lafayette, Indiana John F. Gustafson
1994 Convention 1994 Minneapolis, Minnesota Randall J. Scheetz Nicholas C. Croce Xi Beta Phi
1995 Conference 1995 St. Louis, Missouri Derek L. Diget
1996 Convention 1996 Detroit, Michigan Robert E. Pope Kendra L. Wyatt Omicron Phi First risk management policy created
1997 Conference 1997 Dallas, Texas James D. Beckwith, Donald R. Hoffman Last national conference
1998 Convention 1998 Iowa City, Iowa Dean W. Bettinger Aaron S.H. Kochar Rho Beta, Zeta Gamma Phi Beta
2000 Convention 2000 Scottsdale, Arizona Lee C. Haas Paul Priebe Chi Beta Chi Beta
2002 Convention 2002 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Casey Dunagan Kappa Beta Kappa Beta
2004 Convention 2004 Minneapolis, Minnesota Sean Campbell Kappa Beta Mu 100th anniversary celebration; Risk Management Policy created
2006 Convention 2006 Orlando, Florida John Barnett, Grady McCollum Theta Gamma Theta Gamma
2008 Convention 2008 Washington, D.C. Anthony Hughes Chi Beta Kappa Gamma National Alumni Club of Theta Tau established
2010 Convention 2010 Denver, Colorado Glen Wilcox Doug Wagner Chi Lambda Gamma
2012 Convention 2012 Boston, Massachusetts Christian Lilly, Rho Kappa Gamma Alpha
2014 Convention 2014 Fort Worth, Texas Lee Haas and Bob Pope Memorial Ryan Crownover Mu Lambda Gamma
2016 Convention 2016 Cincinnati, Ohio Rena Wang, Alpha Zeta Delta Lambda Beta
2018 Convention 2018 San Diego, California Eric Wise, Tau Beta Kappa Gamma Epsilon Delta

Chapters[edit]

Below is a list of the chapters and colonies of Theta Tau. The fraternity has installed 96 chapters at schools throughout the country.

Chartered chapters[edit]

Chapter Installed Date Greek University City State Region
Alpha 1 10/15/1904 * Α University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota Midwest
Beta 2 03/26/1906 * B Michigan Technological University Houghton Michigan Midwest
Delta 4 05/23/1911 *

11/13/2016

Δ Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio Great Lakes
Epsilon 5 05/04/1911 *

01/22/2011

Ε University of California, Berkeley Berkeley California Western
Zeta 6 04/17/1912 Ζ University of Kansas Lawrence Kansas Central
Eta 7 05/23/1912 *

04/29/2017

Η Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge Massachusetts Northeast
Kappa 10 03/25/1916 *

02/09/2008

Κ University of Illinois Urbana Illinois Midwest
Mu 12 01/03/1922 Μ University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Alabama Southeast
Xi 14 01/13/1923 * Ξ University of Wisconsin–Madison Madison Wisconsin Midwest
Omicron 15 02/03/1923 * Ο University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa Midwest
Pi 16 05/26/1923 * Π University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia Atlantic
Rho 17 02/16/1924 Ρ North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina Southeast
Sigma 18 11/29/1924 Σ Ohio State University Columbus Ohio Great Lakes
Tau 19 12/12/1925 Τ Syracuse University Syracuse New York Northeast
Upsilon 20 04/07/1928 Υ University of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas Central
Phi 21 04/21/1928 Φ Purdue University West Lafayette Indiana Midwest
Chi 22 04/23/1930 Χ University of Arizona Tucson Arizona Western
Omega 24 03/26/1932 Ω South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City South Dakota Central
Gamma Beta 25 03/16/1935 *

09/23/1989

ΓΒ George Washington University Washington, D.C. District of Columbia Atlantic
Epsilon Beta 27 05/19/1951 ΕΒ Wayne State University Detroit Michigan Great Lakes
Kappa Beta 32 11/21/1964 ΚΒ Mississippi State University Starkville Mississippi Southeast
Lambda Beta 33 09/29/1968 ΛΒ Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Tennessee Southeast
Xi Beta 36 11/21/1987 ΞΒ Lawrence Technological University Southfield Michigan Great Lakes
Omicron Beta 37 01/16/1988 ΟΒ University of Michigan–Dearborn Dearborn Michigan Great Lakes
Rho Beta 39 11/04/1989 ΡΒ Ohio University Athens Ohio Great Lakes
Tau Beta 41 05/04/1990 ΤΒ Southern Methodist University Dallas Texas Central
Upsilon Beta 42 11/03/1990 ΥΒ Old Dominion University Norfolk Virginia Atlantic
Chi Beta 44 05/04/1991 ΧΒ University of Toledo Toledo Ohio Great Lakes
Psi Beta 45 04/27/1991 ΨΒ University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas Central
Omega Beta 46 04/30/1994 ΩΒ Hofstra University Hempstead New York Northeast
Delta Gamma 47 05/06/1995 ΔΓ Arizona State University Tempe Arizona Western
Zeta Gamma 49 04/27/1996 ΖΓ University of Florida Gainesville Florida Gulf
Eta Gamma 50 04/05/1997 ΗΓ University of Colorado at Boulder Boulder Colorado Central
Theta Gamma 51 04/17/1999 ΘΓ University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan Great Lakes
Iota Gamma 52 05/22/1999 ΙΓ University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Ohio Great Lakes
Kappa Gamma 53 09/09/2000 ΚΓ Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Virginia Atlantic
Lambda Gamma 54 01/13/2001 ΛΓ Clemson University Clemson South Carolina Southeast
Mu Gamma 55 04/05/2003 ΜΓ University at Buffalo Buffalo New York Northeast
Nu Gamma 56 05/03/2003 ΝΓ Binghamton University Binghamton New York Northeast
Xi Gamma 57 04/04/2004 ΞΓ Texas A&M University College Station Texas Central
Omicron Gamma 58 04/29/2007 ΟΓ University of California, Davis Davis California Western
Pi Gamma 59 08/25/2007 ΠΓ University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte North Carolina Southeast
Rho Gamma 60 09/08/2007 ΡΓ University of Central Florida Orlando Florida Gulf
Sigma Gamma 61 11/03/2007 ΣΓ University of Rhode Island Kingston Rhode Island Northeast
Tau Gamma 62 03/29/2008 ΤΓ University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania Northeast
Upsilon Gamma 63 04/05/2008 ΥΓ University of South Florida Tampa Florida Gulf
Phi Gamma 64 04/19/2008 ΦΓ Oklahoma State University Stillwater Oklahoma Central
Chi Gamma 65 01/31/2009 ΧΓ The University of Tennessee Knoxville Tennessee Southeast
Psi Gamma 66 04/10/2010 ΨΓ Virginia Polytechnic Institute Blacksburg Virginia Atlantic
Omega Gamma 67 07/24/2010 ΩΓ Florida International University Miami Florida Gulf
Epsilon Delta 68 11/20/2010 ΕΔ University of California, San Diego La Jolla California Western
Zeta Delta 69 02/05/2011 ΖΔ University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina Southeast
Eta Delta 70 03/05/2011 ΗΔ University of Maryland, College Park College Park Maryland Atlantic
Theta Delta 71 05/07/2011 ΘΔ Johns Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland Atlantic
Iota Delta 72 09/17/2011 ΙΔ Vanderbilt University Nashville Tennessee Southeast
Kappa Delta 73 04/14/2012 ΚΔ Cornell University Ithaca New York Northeast
Lambda Delta 74 04/22/2012 ΛΔ University of the Pacific Stockton California Western
Mu Delta 75 04/29/2012 ΜΔ University of California, Merced Merced California Western
Nu Delta 76 09/15/2012 ΝΔ University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Great Lakes
Xi Delta 77 10/06/2012 ΞΔ George Mason University Fairfax Virginia Atlantic
Omicron Delta 78 02/09/2013 ΟΔ Rutgers University New Brunswick New Jersey Northeast
Pi Delta 79 04/13/2013 ΠΔ University of California, Irvine Irvine California Western
Rho Delta 80 11/09/2013 ΡΔ University of Nevada, Reno Reno Nevada Western
Sigma Delta 81 04/26/2014 ΣΔ University of California, Riverside Riverside California Western
Tau Delta 82 12/13/2014 ΤΔ Miami University Oxford Ohio Great Lakes
Upsilon Delta 83 04/25/2015 ΥΔ University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles California Western
Phi Delta 84 05/30/2015 ΦΔ Florida A&M University and Florida State University[3] Tallahassee Florida Gulf
Chi Delta 85 08/22/2015 ΧΔ Marshall University Huntington West Virginia Great Lakes
Psi Delta 86 04/09/2016 ΨΔ Boston University Boston Massachusetts Northeast
Omega Delta 87 05/21/2016 ΩΔ Christian Brothers University Memphis Tennessee Southeast
Zeta Epsilon 88 09/10/2016 ΖΕ Stony Brook University Stony Brook New York Northeast
Eta Epsilon 89 10/15/2016 ΗΕ University of Maine Orono Maine Northeast
Theta Epsilon 90 11/19/2016 ΘΕ New York University New York New York Northeast
Iota Epsilon 91 04/08/2017 ΙΕ University of Georgia Athens Georgia Southeast
Kappa Epsilon 92 09/03/2017 KE University of Southern California Los Angeles California Western
Lambda Epsilon 93 09/23/2017 ΛΕ University of San Diego San Diego California Western
Mu Epsilon 94 09/30/2017 ΜΕ Baylor University Waco Texas Central
Nu Epsilon 95 04/14/2018 ΝΕ Tulane University New Orleans Louisiana Southeast
Xi Epsilon 96 10/13/2018 ΞΕ California State University, Long Beach Long Beach California Western

* previously inactive.

Certified colonies[edit]

Colony Name Colony Installation Date University City State Region
Temple University Colony of Theta Tau 03/21/2015 Temple University Philadelphia Pennsylvania Northeast
University at Albany Colony of Theta Tau 04/04/2015 University at Albany, SUNY Albany New York Northeast
Drexel University Colony of Theta Tau 06/04/2016 Drexel University Philadelphia Pennsylvania Northeast
University of Victoria Colony of Theta Tau 12/18/2016 University of Victoria Oak Bay British Columbia, Canada Western
Santa Clara University Colony of Theta Tau 02/04/2017 Santa Clara University Santa Clara California Western
University of California, Santa Barbara Colony of Theta Tau 02/05/2017 University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California Western
Rowan University Colony of Theta Tau 05/06/2017 Rowan University Glassboro New Jersey Northeast
Northern Arizona University Colony of Theta Tau 09/09/2017 Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Arizona Western
University of New Haven Colony of Theta Tau 11/19/2017 University of New Haven West Haven Connecticut Northeast
New Jersey Institute of Technology Colony of Theta Tau 02/10/2018 New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark New Jersey Northeast
California State University, Fullerton Colony of Theta Tau 04/28/2018 California State University, Fullerton Fullerton California Western
Florida Institute of Technology Colony of Theta Tau 08/25/2018 Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne Florida Gulf
University of Washington Colony of Theta Tau 09/30/2018 University of Washington Seattle Washington Western

Inactive chapters[edit]

Chapter Installed Date Greek University City State Region
Gamma 3 11/08/1907 Γ Colorado School of Mines Golden Colorado Western
Theta 8 05/26/1914 Θ Columbia University New York New York Northeast
Iota 9 02/05/1916 Ι Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla Missouri Midwest
Lambda 11 04/29/1920 Λ University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah Western
Nu 13 01/01/1922 Ν Carnegie-Mellon University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Northeast
Psi 23 05/07/1932 Ψ Montana College of Mineral Science & Technology Butte Montana Western
Delta Beta 26 05/20/1939 ΔΒ University of Louisville Louisville Kentucky Midwest
Zeta Beta 28 05/07/1960 ΖΒ Utah State University Logan Utah Western
Eta Beta 29 05/13/1961 ΗΒ University of Houston Houston Texas Central
Theta Beta 30 03/02/1963 ΘΒ University of Washington Seattle Washington Western
Iota Beta 31 02/15/1964 ΙΒ University of Detroit Detroit Michigan Great Lakes
Mu Beta 34 08/02/1969 ΜΒ GMI Engineering & Management Institute Flint Michigan Great Lakes
Nu Beta 35 04/26/1975 ΝΒ University of Wisconsin–Platteville Platteville Wisconsin Midwest
Pi Beta 38 06/17/1989 ΠΒ Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Michigan Great Lakes
Sigma Beta 40 12/02/1989 ΣΒ University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Milwaukee Wisconsin Midwest
Phi Beta 43 01/05/1991 ΦΒ Oakland University Rochester Michigan Great Lakes
Epsilon Gamma 48 11/18/1995 ΕΓ Northwestern University Evanston Illinois Midwest

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Theta Tau Alumni Hall of Fame" (PDF). Theta Tau. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  2. ^ McMahon, Julie (2018-04-21). "Syracuse University expels Theta Tau frat over 'extremely racist' video". syracuse.com. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  3. ^ Engineering's Theta Tau takes on rehabbing the almost forgotten "Steel Sculpture" on campus

External links[edit]

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